The Power of Information

The Government Information Strategy has been published, and comments and analysis started to circulate.

While the high level strategy attracts general support, it will be the detail of delivering the reality at the sharp end of the NHS where we all be ultimately judged. Will it make a difference to me as a patient or me as a health professional?

I very much hope so!

My lessons in providing access for patients at my surgery are changing my views about what I would like for myself and my family.

My wish list:

• Easy registration for on-line services
• Electronic booking and cancellation of appointments
• Checking and updating my address and contact details
• Order my repeat medications
• Appointment reminders (if I choose)
• See and print my test results and recommendation from my GP
• A simple 'routine' message service to show that I have seen results and recommendations
• See my future agreed test or review schedule
• See my current Summary Care Record
• See and check my GP summary as kept by the Practice
• See the latest hospital letters about me
• See where I am in 'the system' when referred to a specialist

I would like the reminders and appointment functions to work on a standard 'Smart-phone' - the others can be from a PC or tablet device.

I have though rather more about other information such as older letter, the full record, an audit trail of who has seen my record, e-consultations etc, but these are not currently things high on my priority list. A significant reason is that I trust the GP surgery that looks after me, and the clinicians and staff who work there. They are not perfect, but I am not intending to use 'Records Access' to check up on them, rather to make their job of looking after me easier, and reminding me what I need to do to look after myself and stay healthy - from the convenience of my desktop or mobile phone, 24/7.

Perhaps I will change my mind when I get a regular reminders to get off the computer, to walk a bit more, to reduce my intake of wine and to attend for my scheduled 'health-check'....

Peter S.