Two-fifths of PCTs begin SCR campaigns

The summary care record roll out

More than 40% of primary care trusts have started their Public Information Programmes for the Summary Care Record and more are expected to follow soon, according to NHS Connecting for Health.

The Department of Health’s IT agency told EHI Primary Care that 65 PCTs have started PIPs and that the process will not be held up by the announcement of an election.

A spokesperson for the DH said PIPs started by PCTs will be able to continue during the pre-election restricted period and that other PCTs would be able to begin information programmes for patients. However, PCTs will not be able to use local media during the election campaign.

The DH spokesperson added: “As part of those pre-election restrictions we have advised PCTs that they must avoid local media activity during this time. They will be expected to resume any local publicity work once that period has ended.

"Given there is a 12 week minimum period for patients to decide whether to have a Summary Care Record or not, it will still be possible for all PCTs to undertake active information campaigns."

Sir David Nicholson, NHS chief executive, has already written to NHS chief executives to give initial advice on handling the election period.

His letter says guidance will be issued once the election is called but advises chief executives that while NHS business should proceed as normal “special care is needed” because impartial actions or information might attract criticism when they would not normally do.

Five strategic health authorities, covering half of England, have already committed to region-wide roll-out of the SCR using DH funding for PIPs which meant the programmes had to be complete by the end of March.

The Operating Framework also requires all PCTs to set out a timeline for the creation of Summary Care Records at all SCR-complaint GP practices in the 2010-11 financial year.