How is eHealth changing the way my personal information is stored and shared?
- Your GP practice and any other clinics or hospitals you have used will still keep records about your health, but most records are now held on computer instead of on paper.
- Your GP keeps a full record about your health. Most people in Scotland also have an Emergency Care Summary, which is copied from your GP's computer system. This contains basic information about you and your health:
- your name and address
- your date of birth
- medicines your GP has prescribed
- any bad reactions you've had to medicines.
- If you need urgent medical care when your GP practice is closed, health professionals at NHS 24 or a local out of hours medical centre can look at your Emergency Care Summary, if you agree to this. If you are unconscious or unable to give agreement, they may need to read your care summary without asking you first. This is to give you the best possible care.
- You can ask your GP to let you see your Emergency Care Summary.
Long term conditions
- If you have a medical condition which will continue for a long time (like asthma, diabetes, kidney disease or heart disease), you may be able to choose to have a health record which is shared by all NHS staff involved in your care.
- This means all the people involved in your care can get up-to-date information about your health and treatment and can add information to your record.
- Your GP will tell you if it is possible to have a shared record.
Page last edited: 30 March 2011