Health and social care services need to share some of your information so that you can receive the best possible care. This happens in a number of ways – letters, phone calls, fax and through secure email and computer systems. Information in your care record includes things like details of your medication and treatments, current and previous care, test results and any other relevant care information.
Health and care staff working in south east London (Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark) now have better access to more accurate information, so they can provide safer, faster and more effective care and support.
The Local Care Record (Bromley, Lambeth and Southwark) and Connect Care (Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham) systems have been linked, connecting 15,000 care professionals across six boroughs. This means relevant information about you can be safely shared between the staff who need it across the whole of south east London. No matter where you receive care in south east London, the staff looking after you will have the most up-to-date information when they need it.
For example, if you live in Lewisham but are receiving treatment from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, your records are immediately available to the staff looking after you or making the referral.
How does this help with my care?
- You won’t have to tell your story to lots of different professionals.
- You will have fewer unnecessary appointments and tests.
- Transfer of care between services will be smoother.
- Care records are available immediately online.
- Delays in care and treatment will be reduced.