Two GPs to pioneer new online access to medical records

Two pioneering GP practices will select patients to be the first
to have direct on-line secure access to their own medical records,
health minister Gisela Stuart has announced.

The NHS Plan has set a target of everyone having access to their
electronic health records by 2004.

The pilots will take place at GP practices in Derbyshire and
Oxford. The aim is to identify how patients can make the best use
of access to their personal records, and the scheme will focus on
how patients, GPs and other practice staff view the format and type
of information available.

Stuart said: “Electronic patient records will help to put
patients in control of their own health and health care. Patients
will be able to look at their medical records prior to seeing their
GP ensuring that they are fully informed about their health, and
have time to think of the questions they wish to ask. This will
make consultations faster and clearer as both the doctor and the
patient will have access to the same information prior to
consultation.”