As your GP Practice, we are providing you with prospective online access to your medical record from 1st December 2023.
The easiest way to get access is to create an NHS login through the NHS app. Although you can also access your GP records via the internet on a computer. If you use the NHS app, you will have to set up an account using a unique email address and then authenticate yourself to the NHS system to prove you are who you say you are. This will involve confirming your name, date of birth and contact details. The NHS login has several levels of authentication and to gain access to your record, you will need the highest level of authentication.
It will be your responsibility to keep your login details and password safe and secure. If you know or suspect that your record has been accessed by someone that you have not agreed should see it, then you should change your password immediately.
If you print out any information from your record, it is also your responsibility to keep this secure.
If you do not wish to have access to your medical record, please let us know either in writing or respond to the text message you will have received.
Please remember our Clinicians only have on average 10 minutes to consult with you. This includes reading any documents, the actual consultation, writing their notes, and giving you any advice, treatments or referrals required.
It is impossible for them to document everything that has been said to you, instead they will write the points that they feel are important to them or the next clinician, often using short-hand and abbreviations.
Medical records are a record of events and information for clinical staff and not a word for word account of what may have taken place for your own reference. They may contain professional opinion or ideas that you may not necessarily agree with.
Most medical records contain “clinical codes”. They may not match exactly your problem or may be in medical jargon. These are required and are common terms and problems that make linking and searching records easy. For example, “earache” automatically gets saved by the computer system as “otalgia”.
There is not enough capacity and time in General Practice to explain your notes to you. It is also not an NHS duty for this to be done.
If you have any major or serious concerns regarding your notes, please get in touch with the practice in writing.
Please be aware that your record may contain sensitive information. The Practice has the right to remove online access to services for anyone they feel it could harm or be put at risk.