Patient guidance for records access

Guidance for patients on how to keep their online health records safe has been jointly published by the Department of Health and the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

The government has mandated that all patients must have online access to their GP record by March 2015.

‘Keeping your online health and social care records safe and secure’ gives advice on what health records are, how to protect them, and how to share them.

The key suggestions are around creating a strong password, protecting devices used to access online records, and thinking carefully before choosing to share a health record with others.

Dr Wai Keong Wong, who led the development of the guidelines on behalf of BCS Health, said the guide was created because patients were increasingly accessing their health and care records or holding their own.

“These records contain potentially sensitive personal information, so it’s important that individuals know how to keep them safe,” he said.

“Everyone should take the same care with their health and social care records as they do if they use online banking.”

It was developed and tested with patients, patient support groups and other interested organisations

Dr Charles Gutteridge, DH national clinical director, said millions of people worldwide were using online records and apps to look after themselves.

“In the UK, there is an increasing amount of online information for health purposes which includes NHS Choices, the NHS Summary Care Record, electronic prescribing and booking systems,” he explained.

“This guidance really helps everyone to understand how to maximise the benefits of online health resources and how to keep their personal data secure.”