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My medical history was quickly accessed, thanks to My Care Record

Frequently Asked Questions

My Care Record enables health and care professionals to access information about you to improve your care.

This provides:

  • Better co-ordinated and seamless care
  • Quicker diagnosis and treatment
  • More time to spend on clinical care
  • Less paperwork and less repetition
  • Fewer unnecessary clinical tests
  • More accurate prescriptions
  • Better health and care planning

How does My Care Record work?

My Care Record is an approach to improving care by joining up health and care information. It enables frontline staff to access the information they need to look after you, even if they work for different organisations or in different locations. For example, a hospital doctor, community nurse, or social worker involved in your care could view the information they need from your GP record.

The My Care Record approach provides an agreement between all the health and care organisations involved. This means they commit to sharing information in a secure way to help improve your care. 

Secure sharing of information can happen in several ways, for example:

  • Shared Care Records / Health Information Exchanges - secure technology that connect multiple record systems and allow health and care staff to view a summary of up-to-date information when delivering care.

  • Traditional methods of communication between health and care services working together such as secure email, letters and telephone calls. 

As more care providers use improved systems to connect and view records across services, the benefits will increase. 

Who can see my information?

Wherever possible, health and care professionals will be able to access your records from other services when it is needed for your care. This may include individuals working within hospitals, GP practices, treatment centres, care homes, social care and community teams. This will make it easier and faster for them to make the best decisions. An administrator may access your records under the direction of a health and care professional providing care to you. For example, to check details of appointments and co-ordinate your care.

My Care Record is a key part of wider work to provide more joined-up care; connecting people, services and systems.  Work has begun; however, the whole process is complex and will take time to complete. 

A full list of the health and care organisations involved in My Care Record can be found here.

Certain information – that doesn’t identify you – will also be used to help improve services and plan for the future. For example, it will help us plan for the number of doctors, nurses and care workers needed to look after you in the future.

What information will be made available?

My Care Record includes information from your health and care records. This may include but is not exclusive to:

  • Name, address, NHS number and phone number
  • Medical conditions
  • Treatment provided and contact the individual has had with the organisation
  • Care plans
  • Emergency department treatment
  • Discharge summaries
  • Medication reviews
  • Medical reports
  • Care and support plans
  • Care plans reviews - adult social care assessments
  • Results of investigations, such as x-rays, scans, and laboratory tests

The information that can be accessed from each service or organisation will depend on the system that is used. Each partner organisation involved is responsible for the information that they share and/or access. 

Can I object to my information being accessed through My Care Record?

You can object to your record being shared between services. To do this, speak to the person delivering care to you at each organisation such as your GP, specialist or social worker. If you live in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, additionally you can choose to use an online form or phone line to register/discuss an objection. Details can be found here: https://www.cpics.org.uk/my-care-record.

  • It is important to understand that not allowing access to your information may affect the quality of the care you receive. 
  • Only health and social care professionals involved in your care are allowed to access your information. These people are viewing your record to give you the best quality care they can.
  • In many situations it is necessary to share information between services to deliver care. However, it may be possible to request that specific or sensitive information is not made available. 

There may be circumstances where your objection may not be upheld. For example:

  • If it is in the public interest for information to still be shared. For example, if there is a safeguarding issue, or in the case of an individual who might be at risk from harming themselves or a member of the public
  • If clinical care cannot be provided, for example, GPs providing additional routine appointments at the weekend need access to your GP record to provide you with safe effective care. In this instance, you may choose not to have the appointment.  
  • Some computer systems may not be well enough developed to prevent the sharing of information. However, this information still remains confidential amongst the team of people that are directly caring for you.

  

How do I know My Care Record is kept secure?

The My Care Record approach is in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) which provides the legal basis to share information between health and care services when it is needed to deliver care. All your information will be held securely.

Your information can only be accessed over a secure healthcare network. An audit trail is maintained to record access to your records.

By law, all people working in health and social care or as part of NHS healthcare teams must respect your privacy and keep all information about you safe. Everyone within the health and care sectors must complete mandatory information governance training.

Can the government or insurance companies view or use My Care Record? Will it affect my benefits?

My Care Record will only be used by professionals involved in your care. It will not affect your benefits. Third parties, companies or individuals not directly involved in your care will not be able to view your record.

Can I access my own health and care records?

My Care Record enables health and care professionals to access information about you. Each organisation who provides care to you will be able to share the records they hold about you with you.

More information about accessing your own records can be found here:

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/how-to-access-your-health-records/

What do I do if I would like to make a complaint about improper use of My Care Record?

Please talk to your GP or health and care professional if you have any concerns about improper use of My Care Record. An audit trace can be produced to investigate this. Inappropriate access by staff members is taken very seriously and formal investigations would be carried out.

All partner organisations have complaints procedures. If you wish to make a complaint, please contact your direct care provider such as your GP, hospital consultant, social worker or speak to their PALS (Patients Advisors and Liaisons Services) / Complaints department. Patients also have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office regarding breaches of confidentiality.

For independent advice about data protection, privacy, data sharing issues and your rights you can contact: 

Information Commissioner’s Office; Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire 

SK9 5AF, Telephone: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.                    Visit the ICO website. https://ico.org.uk/

My Care Record enables more joined-up care to people living in the area. Please see the Your Information page for other ways your information may be used within the NHS.