Evaluation to recommend cautious SCR roll-out

The pace of implementation of the Summary Care Record (SCR) looks likely to be slower than originally planned after it has emerged that only two PCTs have so far got records available to view over the Spine.

The first evaluation of the SCR, due to be published next month, is also expected to recommend a cautious approach to rollout and CfH has now commissioned a further two-year evaluation. However, CfH has denied that the additional evaluation will affect the timetable for national roll-out.

Of the five early adopter PCTs only Bolton and Bury have so far got the SCR available to view by staff working in out-of-hours and accident and emergency. In Bolton only records for 25% of patients originally sent an information pack about the SCR have so far been uploaded.

CfH said the creation of SCRs for patients in the other early adopter areas, Dorset, South Birmingham and Bradford and Airedale, had not yet begun.

A spokesperson for CfH added: “The creation of Summary Care Records is expected to commence in other Early Adopter PCTs at a safe and steady pace over the summer.”

EHI Primary Care also understands that the evaluation of the early adopter sites, due to be published in May, will urge a more cautious approach to rollout of the SCR. The report from Prof Trisha Greenhalgh from the University of London is expected to recommend that great care be taken to properly evalute and refine the SCR, with more work required on the need for the SCR and how it should be used in practice.

Connecting for Health has also commissioned a further evaluation from Prof Greenhalgh and UCL at a cost of £700,000 which is not due to report until May 2010.

A spokesperson for CfH told EHI Primary Care: “We believe that an independent analysis of activities will significantly help roll-out for the future. Continuing to evaluate progress will provide valuable learning for other adopters of the SCR, it will not have an impact on the timeframe for national rollout.”

The slow pace of implementation appears contrary to the requirements of the Operating Framework for 2008/9 which stated that roll-out will begin in early 2008/9 and all NHS providers would need to have plans in place by 31 March 2008 for implementing the SCR.