Health organisations agree to put SCR back on track

Reversing a decision made two weeks ago

the BMA and Connecting for Health have agreed to push ahead with SCR rollout

In a reversal of a decision made two weeks ago – to stall the accelerated rollout of the Summary Care Records (SCR) system – the BMA and Connecting for Health have now agreed that the upload of information to the system should take place after all.

However, both bodies argue that this should only take place where patients and doctors have been adequately informed about the process, with patients being given the option to opt out.

The original decision to stall the accelerated rollout – taking place in some trusts – followed criticism by the BMA that many doctors and patients had not been fully briefed on the process.

A joint statement following the decision says that both practices and primary care trusts (PCTs) must be satisfied that data is of an appropriate quality for sharing with other trusts.

The two bodies have also said: "[We will] work jointly on what, within the constraints of current policy, constitutes an appropriate local campaign of public and professional awareness and practice support."

Delivery of the SCR by March 2011 was a requirement in the 2010-11 Operating Framework.