Jane Hunt MP asked:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including community pharmacies in IT systems that fully integrate local health and care records, where appropriate permissions are given.
Maria Caulfield MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, responded:
The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework sets out the shared vision for community pharmacy to play an increased role in the delivery of primary care. There is consensus that community pharmacists should have the ability to view and contribute to the medical records of patients, where appropriate permissions are given.
NHSX is developing interoperable IT systems to fully integrate local health and care records, while considering issues such as patient consent and data security. This will allow clinicians across the National Health Service to access patients’ records, make informed clinical decisions and populate those records, ensuring transfers of care are safe and effective and improve health outcomes.
