Personal Health Record

We all want to manage our health better and get good quality care. But that’s not always easy. No one want’s to have to wait for test results, have a lengthy wait on the phone to change an appointment or visit their GP just to submit some test results.

Putting you in charge of your health information

Digital technologies and ways of working can complement existing ways of delivering care, and make it easier for people to get the care they need, when they need it. For example, a patient might choose to email a picture of a pressure sore to their clinician rather than travel to a clinic. Or they might choose to check their test results on line at a time convenient to them, rather than having to call their surgery.  

Throughout the Summer of 2021 we undertook a listening project – The Discovery Phase -  to look at ways in which digital technologies might better support patients. We spoke to patients, clinicians and the wider public to truly understand how digital technologies might support people’s health needs.  We particularly wanted to hear from under-represented groups and from people who do not normally use digital technologies. Here are some of the things we heard:

  • Making life easier. Digital technologies can help clinicians provide care in ways that are more convenient to the patient. For example, you might have an online consultation from home, rather than having to travel to a hospital.
  • Say it once. Some patients do not like giving their health history on many different occasions. They should only have to do so just once.
  • Better managing your own care. Patients with multiple health conditions want to more easily manage their care especially when many different healthcare professionals are involved.
  • Helping the NHS. Digital technologies can help all of the NHS be more efficient, improving the health of all and making better use of resources.

We’ve also heard about some of the concerns people have.

  • Choice – people should still have a face to face consultation if they request it.
  • Security and safety – patients will want to be confident that their information is safe and secure, visible only to the people who need to see it.
  • Support – Patients may need help to understand their medical records – such as test results – and what it means to them
  • Access – digital services should be easy to use, for everyone. But some groups such as deaf people, people living with dementia, those for whom English is not their first language can find it especially hard to access health care services online.

We’re now building a Personal Health Record for everyone on Surrey – safe and secure online access to your health records, whenever you need them. Using the very successful NHS App, people will have 24-hours access to their health records and can make, change or cancel appointments, check test results, contact their health and care professionals and submit test results.