London to introduce Summary Care Records

The Department of Health says that the NHS in London will implement England's national patient record system over the next year

The first records will be uploaded by the Princess Street Group Practice in Southwark on 19 November 2009.

The department said that all residents in the capital will receive a letter outlining the initiative, offering them the choice to opt out of having a SCR. The record includes core health information including prescriptions, allergies and adverse reactions gathered initially from GP records.

Ruth Carnall, chief executive of NHS London, said: "Getting hold of health records for London's highly mobile population often presents real challenges to doctors and nurses when patients need out-of-hours and emergency care.

"The Summary Care Record has demonstrated clear benefits elsewhere in the country and NHS London is keen to bring these to the capital."

Introduction of the SCR has been heavily delayed. It was originally expected to start in 2004, along with other elements of the national programme.

But it was only this year that the project began to show significant progress, with six primary care trust areas, including Bury and Bolton, having started implementation.

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