Delay to central medical database

19 Apr 2010

The public deserve more of an explanation about the process of medical records being placed on a central computer system before the programme is rolled out to some areas of the country, the Government has agreed.

Patients are not consenting properly to the accelerated roll-out of the summary care record (SCR) in some regions, the British Medical Association (BMA) said.

So far more than 1.25 million patient records have already gone online and over time there will be a further 50 million uploaded on to the database.

The record contains basic details like name, allergies, medication and adverse reactions, with further details possibly being added over time.

Patients in some regions have received letters about the records, giving them the chance to opt out of having one created online.

But the BMA said last month the programme was happening too fast in some parts of England and called for a suspension.

The Department of Health has now told the BMA records will not go online in accelerated roll-out areas until there is greater public and professional awareness.

Dr Grant Ingrams, chairman of the BMA's GP IT Committee, said: "This is a positive step.

"Summary care records have the potential to improve healthcare for patients if implemented appropriately."

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