Electronic system for health records, One Health and Care, being extended to county

Patient records in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin will soon be available electronically for health and social care practitioners to view. These records will be ready to go live in summer 2021.

This means a doctor in a hospital, or a paramedic who attends a 999 call, will be able to access the same crucial information as a GP when they need it. In some situations, knowing details of any allergies, medications or long-term conditions could potentially save lives.

Andrew Roberts, Clinical Lead for the integrated care record said: “The electronic integrated care records system allows healthcare professionals to view information which is held by different health and care services. It means we will be able to improve quality and outcomes for those being treated and cared for across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

“Many regions across England have already moved to this record sharing-system, or are in process in doing so, including Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.”

Currently, local health and care services hold separate pieces of information about patients – which isn’t easily accessible between different organisations.

With the new system, health practitioners will have access to up-to-date records for their citizens’ medical and care needs, making care safer and reducing duplication. It will prevent patients being asked for information repeatedly and ensure that their care preferences are shared and understood by all those caring for them.

Andrew Roberts said: “In an emergency, it is important that the clinician knows as much about you as possible to make the right decisions about how to treat you.

“Patients are often frustrated when they have to repeatedly give the same information to people from different parts of the NHS and social care. There can also be delays caused by records not being easily accessible. This new system will help put an end to that.”