Out-of-hours access to patient information comes a step closer in Scotland
Emergency care summaries (ECS) — an electronic record containing basic information about a patient's health — are to be introduced in Scotland, it was announced this week. Although few pharmacists will have direct access to the ECS system initially, they can request information via NHS24.
Details of the ECS system are set out in a patient
information leaflet that is being sent to all households in Scotland. It explains that the
ECS is the first step towards full electronic health records.
The ECS contains a patient’s name, date of birth, Community Health
Index number, a list of medicines prescribed by the patient’s GP
and a record of any adverse reactions to medicines. It can be accessed
by staff working in out-of-hours medical centres, accident and emergency
departments and NHS24.
A spokesman for the Scottish Executive Health Department told The
Journal that pharmacists employed by NHS24 are able to access the system. Hospital
and community pharmacists do not have direct access at present although
this may change in the future.
However, he added: “A community pharmacist with a patient in front
of him could contact NHS24 and ask for access to the patient’s
ECS record. The NHS24 call handler would then speak to the patient to
ascertain their consent to access the data in their ECS, record that
the patient has provided consent, and pass the information verbally on
to the pharmacist.” |
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