NHS
patients will be given online access to their health records in the next three
years under plans to be announced by the Government today. Doctors’ surgeries will have to set up services to allow anyone to see
their health files, book appointments and order repeat prescriptions on the
internet. People will also be given detailed information on the survival rates
and success of treatments in their areas, so they can choose to go to more
“successful” hospitals or doctors if they wish.
The move for online health records comes despite the decision by Andrew Lansley, the previous health secretary, to cancel a massive NHS national database Photo: ALAMY
A Government source said: “Many people are juggling longer working hours
with caring for children and older relatives. Looking after their own health,
and the health of their families needs to be as straightforward as possible. Looking
after our health should be easy — in an age where people can do their banking
or shopping online, it should be just as simple to view your health records,
order a repeat prescription or book a GP appointment.”
The new campaign is being spearheaded by Jeremy Hunt, the Health
Secretary. The move for online health records comes despite the decision by
Andrew Lansley, the previous health secretary, to cancel a massive NHS national
database amid fears over its cost and security concerns. The new online plan
will be operated at a local level. Patients will have to opt-in to the system
to read their records over the internet. Paramedics and other medical experts
will also be given access to the records of those making use of the system.
It will be introduced before the next election in 2015 in a move
described as a “watershed” for the NHS. The proposal is one of the key planks
of the new NHS mandate being announced today. The mandate is a set of
instructions given by ministers to improve the health service following the
Coalition’s reforms. Under the plans, people will be able to enter their
postcode into a new system to assess the effectiveness of health treatment in
their local areas.
A scheme allowing people to compare the success of individual surgeons
or other doctors will also be extended. A source said: “We want people to be
able to see the health of their local population with regards to the five
biggest killers — cancer, stroke, heart, liver and respiratory disease — and
how well the local health service is tackling them. “This will make it easier
for people to find information and give real power so people know how effective
their local health experts are. “It will help to drive up standards as
different areas can see how well their neighbours are doing.”
The NHS has a controversial history of introducing major new IT
programmes. The Coalition previously scrapped plans for a national database
after it was criticised in a series of official reports. Last year, the House
of Commons Public Accounts committee described the database programme as
“unworkable”. The National Audit Office criticised the project for being poor
value for money.
Source: Telegraph
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