Secure sharing of information between health and care services is crucial for delivering safe and effective care. The Mid and South Essex Shared Care Record is a valuable tool that can be utilised whenever you are providing care to an individual. The following sections will help you understand the types of data available, how to navigate the system, and how to use the information responsibly in your practice.
Data visibility guide
This guide details which datasets are shared by each organisation, offering essential insights into the scope and limitations of the data within the Shared Care Record. Understanding this is crucial for effectively using the available information.
> Data visibility guide (updated 26 February 2025)
> Data visibility guide – plain text version (updated 26 February 2025)
Types of data in the Shared Care Record
The Shared Care Record contains both structured and unstructured data. Understanding the difference between these is crucial.
Structured data: This is highly organised and easily searchable. This information is displayed in the interactive dashboards, such as the Person Summary or Medications Viewer sections.
Unstructured data: This is more free-form, and does not follow a specific format. It often includes text and documents. This type of data is stored in the clinical document tree.
The data visibility guide shows which data is structured and which is unstructured, helping you to navigate the system and use this information. For more information, please refer to the training materials.
Using this information effectively
- Some data feeds are not live and are updated periodically, so please consider this when making care decisions.
- An absence of information does not mean that it does not exist – always verify if unsure.
- This tool does not replace care conversations with individuals but can be used to enhance these discussions.
- The Shared Care Record does not send notifications when there is new information about a person. You will need to refer to the Shared Care Record regularly for updated information.
Using this information responsibly
While you do not need to obtain a person’s consent to access their information in the Shared Care Record, it is important to be transparent and inform them whenever possible.
Having access to the Shared Care Record means you will have information from a wide range of health and social care organisations. Some of this information may be new to you and outside of your area of expertise. Ensure you do not share information with an individual that may impact their care from other providers, such as a recent cancer diagnosis they may not have been informed about.
There is no print facility within the Shared Care Record. You should not print any information or take screenshots as this creates risks around data security, record duplication and out-of-date information being used. If you require a report or result not sent directly to your organisation, you must contact the originating organisation to request a copy.
The Shared Care Record does not replace existing communication methods between services, such as sending hospital results and letters to a person’s GP. The responsibility for communicating results and treatment decisions remains with the professional who ordered the investigation.
Further information for health and social care professionals