Access to medical records and online services at GP surgeries Report, Lancashire
Download (PDF 3.83 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Lancashire undertook a small study which involved 17 members of staff and volunteers who requested access to their medical records from their own GPs from 17 surgeries. They were not directed to do this in any particular method but shared their findings. This included access to medical records, online system to book GP appointments and order prescriptions.
17 individual case studies are included: 3 respondents successfully accessed their medical records, 1 saw a summary, 1 saw immunisations, 13 had access to online appointment booking and repeat prescription ordering, 3 could not register, 2 had issues with confidentiality procedures and 1 experienced difficulties due to sensory loss.
NHS England will use the information to inform the Lancashire Digital Roadmap, which will set out the digital strategy for health and care services across Lancashire. A priority is to encourage greater uptake and utilisation of online services in general practice.
Further actions are planned and include:
• Improve process for monitoring uptake of online services to create a Local Digital Roadmap Dashboard to monitor uptake and access
• Engage with practices to understand barriers to implementing online services
• Identify practices struggling with mobilising online services, partner them with practices where uptake is high via Commissioning Support Unit and the Patient Online Team
• Seek increased online uptake to 30% by 17/18 for patients with long term
condition
• Communicate benefits of online services to patients
• Raise awareness of the online agenda
• Establish a local team to support practices publish more online appointment slots.
NHS England and Healthwatch to engage with the public to ensure that primary care services not only meet patient needs, but are accessible and of a high quality.
NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group’s Quality Framework for General Practice in East Lancashire: one of the quality domains within this focuses on improved access to general practice and monitoring online access. Inclusion of the findings as part of the consultation feedback and to ensure that any improvement areas for access within the business case for implementation of this new model.