Leo King reports in ComputerworldUK:
The government has admitted much more work has to be done on patient security and confidentiality concerns, associated with allowing pharmacists access to patient Summary Care Records (SCRs).
It said more discussions and assessment had to take place between various health bodies, in order for a decision to be taken on how to protect the data.
SCRs will contain basic information for healthcare providers on patients’ details, prescriptions and allergies, but more information will be added to them as patients are treated, and this is an area where little detail has been provided.
It has also previously been proposed that the care records could be shared with social services.
In February, it was reported that thousands of smartcards that give NHS staff access to patient records had been lost or stolen.
Late last year the British Medical Association wrote to health minister Ben Bradshaw calling for a halt to the roll-out of patients’ summary care records until the results of pilot projects have been reviewed.
Full story – ComputerworldUK