The London Care Record is to be made available to more health and care staff beyond the city’s borders.
OneLondon, the programme team that represents the five integrated care systems in the capital, has said it is now working to link up Oxford University Hospital and healthcare providers in Bedfordshire, Luton, Suffolk and north-east Essex.
This will enable staff in those areas to view the care record through their existing digital systems, so they can see relevant information on people for whom they are caring.
The move will build on connections already in place with Hertfordshire and West Essex ICS and Milton Keynes University Hospital.
OneLondon said that extending access to the records to these is areas is important as large numbers of their residents will be referred for treatment or care in London. In addition. Oxford University Hospitals is one of the largest teaching trusts in the UK.
The move also supports wider work led by NHS England to connect healthcare provider records across the country through the Connecting Care Records Programme.
Leading the way
Luke Readman, director of digital transformation at NHS England (London), said: “It is great that the capital is leading the way joining up its systems with other areas to support frontline health and care staff provide the best possible care.
“Over the last two years we have already seen the positive difference this has made in Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire and West Essex. It is exciting that residents in more areas neighbouring London are also set to benefit from more joined up care.”
Sally Wiltshire, OneLondon senior programme manager, said: “Ensuring that their GPs and other staff involved in their care in their local area can see information from London and have a joined up picture of their whole care pathway is really important. This is already making a difference in Milton Keynes, and Hertfordshire and West Essex, where frontline staff can already view the London Care Record.
“So it is great news that more of our neighbouring health and care providers will now be connected to the London Care Record and more people can benefit from this joined up care.”
