The NHS is introducing new computer systems and services to improve the safety and quality of your care. Better access to your information makes your care quicker, safer and more personal.

Over time, more health records will be made electronic, giving our staff quicker access to reliable information about you to help with your treatment, including in emergencies.

It is likely that your doctor or consultant already uses a computer system to keep notes of appointments they have with you, plus any medicines you have been prescribed, test results and details of any referrals to other healthcare staff.

There are different types of electronic health records held about your care:

• Summary Care Records – held nationally and can be looked at anywhere in the NHS in England;
• Records held in prescriptions, referrals and other local systems; 
• Detailed care records – held locally at places that treat you regularly, like your GP practice or local hospital.
  

With electronic health records

Healthcare staff supporting and providing your care will be able to see and share up-to-date, accurate information about you to help them make decisions and to prevent mistakes.

For example, they will be able to make better decisions about what medicine to give you if they know what you are already taking, or if you have had a bad reaction to a medicine in the past.

Your care is less likely to be delayed because your paper records are somewhere else. We won't need to do as many tests because the results are lost or are unavailable.

You should not have to repeat the same details over and over again when you receive care – NHS healthcare staff will get better access to a more complete picture of your health history.