In mid and south Essex, we’re improving the way your health and care information is managed to ensure you get the best and safest care possible. The Shared Care Record is a new digital tool that will bring together key information from the separate care records held by local health and care organisations. It will present this information in a structured and easy-to-read format.
Hear more about what this is and why we’re doing it:
MSE Shared Care Record: delivering better, more joined-up care
Voiceover: People living in mid and south Essex are set to receive better connected care and safer treatment, thanks to the introduction of the Mid and South Essex Shared Care Record.
Health and social care professionals need access to essential information about a person to deliver the best possible care. This information is often fragmented across the multiple health and social care records managed by various organisations including hospitals, GP practices, local authorities among others.
The Shared Care Record introduces a secure digital solution to bridge this gap. It consolidates key information from a person’s various health and social care records into one structured and easy-to-read platform.
Hear from local professionals about what the introduction of the Shared Care Record means to them and the people they care for.
Dr Deepa Shanmugasundaram, GP in Mid Essex and Chief Clinical Information Officer for Primary Care at Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board says, “As a GP, I currently need to navigate multiple systems to gather important information about a patient. The Shared Care Record will consolidate crucial information in one place, giving me more immediate access to their medical and social care histories.
This insight is crucial for coordinating effectively with other care providers, whether they are specialists, hospital staff, or social care workers. Understanding a patient’s social care is crucial, especially for those with frailty or long-term conditions. Being aware of key carers and existing support packages enables us to blend this with medical care, tailoring our approach to suit their daily life and challenges. This comprehensive perspective ensures care decisions are well-informed and holistic.”
Sam Neville, Chief Nursing Information Officer at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust: “I’m excited about the introduction of the Mid and South Essex Shared Care Record. At its core, the Shared Care Record is a digital tool for us to better understand and respond to our patients’ healthcare needs – whether it’s managing chronic conditions or the more subtle aspects of daily care. By providing a more holistic view of each patient’s health and social care journey, it enables our teams to make more informed decisions aimed at enhancing patient outcomes.
This instant access to comprehensive information could greatly enhance our ability to make swift, informed decisions, directly impacting patient safety. Examples include the ability to make rapid decisions in our emergency department, precise adjustments to medications, and ensuring safe and well-coordinated discharges, among others.
Jude ODonoghue, Senior Social Worker and Approved Mental Health Professional at Southend City Council says “As a social care professional, the Shared Care Record is set to transform the way we support our clients. Having access to comprehensive and up-to-date information is vital. With this new tool, I’ll have immediate access to essential health and care information, allowing for more informed and holistic support.
This means I will be able to see important details like a client’s recent hospital visits, medication changes, or updates in their care plans. It will enable me to provide more targeted and effective assistance, ensuring that the social care we provide is seamlessly integrated with their healthcare.
The Shared Care Record is more than just a tool – it’s a bridge connecting the crucial aspects of health and social care, ensuring every individual receives the best possible support.”
Voiceover: If you’d like to know more about the Shared Care Record, please visit www.midandsouthessexics.nhs.uk/sharedcarerecord
How this benefits you
Having records located in different places can lead to delays and create challenges. With the Shared Care Record, doctors, paramedics, social workers, and other professionals will have instant access to crucial information about you, such as allergies or medications. This not only helps you receive timely treatments but can also be lifesaving in emergencies.
The Shared Care Record also helps us to deliver more tailored care. Instead of repeating your health story every time you see a different professional, they’ll already have access to a lot of this information. This holistic approach helps deliver more personalised care and can help to ease transitions between NHS and social care services.
It’s not just about better, safer care – it’s also about efficiency. Instead of wasting time hunting for bits of information, health and care professionals will have what they need at their fingertips. This will speed up decisions and ensure you get the care you need faster.
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If you would like to know more about our overall approach to improving care by joining up health and care information, please visit My Care Record:
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