Giving patients access to their GP electronic health records,

improve understanding and make healthcare safer too

Haughton Thornley Medical CentresHyde, Cheshire, UKwww.htmc.co.uk

amir.hannan@nhs.net

Why give patients access to their records?

Helps patients to:

• Know what is recorded about them• See what conditions they suffer with• Check their immunisation status• Complete medical forms for applications they may have• Review what was discussed in a consultation• See if test results are back• Check accuracy of their records• Show their record to whom they like• Understand their own health• Let carers see what is happening to them• Get regular email updates on healthcare / practice developments• Make informed choices about their health• Open opportunities for using other online services eg Instant Medical History• Enjoy safer care

What does Records Access mean?

Patients can• Go online via the practice website www.htmc.co.uk and view

their GP electronic health record online• Order repeat prescriptions online• View their appointment with anybody in the practice• See their significant active and past problems and any

significant operations they may have had• See consultations including free text• See their test results• See their letters / scan results • See their past medication / immunisations

What types of patients have access to their records

Condition Number Percentage

Diabetes 198/778 25%

Heart Disease 103/498 20%

Asthma 409/1741 23%

COPD 65/347 18%

Anxiety / Depression 505/1314 38%

Pulmonary Embolus 22/68 32%

Cancer 60/243 24%

Thyroxine / Hypothyroidism 124/458 27%

Bengali patients 215/1520 14%

Patients at Haughton Vale 797/5560 14%

Patients at Thornley House 1526/6288 24%

Total number of patients 2327/11885 20%

How do patients get access to their records?

• Ask all patients if they would like to access their records• Remember, patients do not always think they need it• It is therefore important to listen to the patient and help them to

understand why it may benefit them and their loved ones from their perspective

• Patients can access their records via a computer, tablet or even a smartphone

• Even if a patient does not have access to the internet, you can still check if they have any other family that may be able to help them or they can go to the library

• If they do not have any interest or do not want it then don’t push them• But if they do show an interest then consider how you can help them

to get access to their records

How do patients get access to their GP electronic health records

• Give patient their PIN NUMBERS• Ask patient for their email address, mobile phone, home telephone

number and an 8 or more character password which includes at least 1 digit (case sensitive) eg football2

• Inform patient that they will receive an email from the practice advising them to go to

www.htmc.co.uk/GetAccessNow

• Patient needs to see benefits as well as challenges of records access. They need to see how to keep their information safe

• They should then complete the ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE and register their PIN NUMBER

What if the patients want to know more?

• Ask them to look at the practice website www.htmc.co.uk• Ask patient to look at testimonials there and other

resources that help patients to understand the records• Ask patient to send an email to htmcpatient@nhs.net to

ask for more help• Leave a message for Dr Hannan to call the patient back so

that they can talk to him directly• Ask the patient if they would like to talk to another

patient who may be able to inform them about any other questions from a patient perspective

Can you help improve this?

• Whilst you are here, maybe you might think a better way of doing this?

• May be you might come across a different way that makes more sense to you

• Or you learn from patients who tell you how to do it differently

• Tell us – we are here to learn from you however “silly” it may be.

• You never know – that maybe the big idea we are looking for!

• So tell us what you think! We are here to listen!