SCR roll-out suspended

The summary care record roll out

The Department of Health has suspended the roll-out of the Summary Care Record in the five strategic health authorities where accelerated implementation has been underway.

The DH said SCRs would not be created in the regions identified for accelerated implementation “until appropriate professional and public awareness has been raised."

The move was welcomed by the BMA, which wrote to health minister Mike O’ Brien last month calling for a suspension of the roll-out.

It claimed this was being carried out without patient awareness and before the independent evaluation of the early adopter areas had been published.

Dr Grant Ingrams, chairman of the BMA’s GP IT Committee, said the decision was a positive step.

He added: “We are pleased that NHS Connecting for Health has listened to us and welcome the decision to suspend uploads.

"Summary Care Records have the potential to improve healthcare for patients if implemented appropriately. We will want to work with government in future to ensure that the many concerns of patients and doctors are listened to and addressed.”

A statement issued by CfH says: “The Summary Care Record contributes to patient safety by ensuring that information contained in the GP record about medicines, allergies and adverse reactions can be accessed by medical professionals across the country.

"A publicity leaflets campaign is underway to inform the public about the Summary Care Record, including how to opt-out.

"Patient Summary Care Records will not be created in the regions identified for accelerated implementation of the SCR Patient Information Programme, until appropriate professional and public awareness has been raised.

"CfH is committed to continuing to work closely with stakeholders, including the BMA."

At the beginning of the year, five SHAs, NHS North West, NHS North East, NHS Yorkshire and Humber, NHS London and NHS East of England, announced plans to run Public Information Programmes for the SCR by the end of March and then begin uploading records.

The SHAs were given DH funding towards the PIPs on the condition they were completed by the end of March.

However, the BMA claimed the roll-out was “too hasty” and criticised the lack of an opt-out form in the patient information packs as well as calling for a national publicity campaign on the SCR.

The independent evaluation of the SCR by University College, London, was due to be published this month but is now scheduled to appear later this year following quality assurance and peer review, according to a written parliamentary answer earlier this month.