Are there any people accessing GP digital services in Wales? I often post about how to access NHS England digital services and my information does not apply to Wales and Scotland so I am trying to find out more.
I have found references to My Health Online.
nwis.nhs.wales/myhealthonline/
Anyone use this?
Can anyone fill me in?
Does anyone use Patient Knows Best to Access their hospital records?
No access in Scotland . Not even appointments or proper repeats just now either
It is astonishing that we have an organisation called the National Health Service. There seems to be little “National” about it in regard to many things not just the failure to provide similar record access for patients.
There is a clinician in Scotland Dr Gordon Caldwell (Twitter) who is very vocal on the lack of record access not only for patients but hospitals too. The NHS spine contains summary record details for emergency use. It lists serious conditions and medications only to be accessed in emergency. He states that patient records for a patient in England cannot be accessed in Scotland and vice versa. So if a cardiac patient crosses the border for a holiday and has a heart attack there is no access to vital records stored on the national NHS system.
I think very few people are aware of the shambles that exists both for patient access and staff access. Meanwhile Dr Caldwell sees patients from other countries who access all GP and hospital data easily on their phones and share it with him so he can treat them effectively. I don’t know why it is so hard in the UK.
I think it's right we have our own health services and for many years Scotland was is the forefront of new treatments etc but then finances hit, which is the IT problem reason.
Once we are an independent country, possibly, things may change
I agree separate funding streams are necessary for different population health needs
but we should have national STANDARDS relating to access, waiting times, record sharing etc
What we have currently are four separate health services but referred to as the NHS with decisions largely referring to NHS England particularly with the GP contract.....unless Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate GP contracts but as far as I know the BMA/RCGP represents all GP’s. It’s all a mystery.
SeasideSusie might pop along and comment....she’s in Wales
DJR1
I am in North Wales and my surgery doesn't have online access for anything.
When I asked about online access for test results (a couple of years ago) I was told that there would be no online access until they were sure the system was "secure". Obviously not much progress in that department has been made in all that time!
Thank for your response, have you seen the MyHealthOnline App?
I will ask some questions from my contacts and see how far I get. I am curious now as this App offers online services including the facility for record access. There must be an issue somewhere.
I've read about MyHealthOnline before and I've just checked it out again, put in my postcode and the nearest surgery registered for this is about 25 miles away.
The only thing we can access through My Health Online here in mid-Wales is the ability to book appointments (although those at the moment are severely limited) and order repeat prescriptions. That's it! All other services like access to medical records/tests etc. are not available on this site.
Same here in West Wales. It’s good for repeat prescriptions and appointments (although it does have some mistakes saying I missed an appointment when I know I didn’t!) . I asked the surgery if I could access my records online and they said it’s not an option at this time. Really makes me wonder why we can’t have it as England does and is supposed to be a national service. If I want any specific blood results I have to get a request form via the receptionist ok’d by the doctor and then they will print me a result and can cost 10p per sheet. Although I can access verbally if I had a recent test and they will tell me if it “ok” or not.
Charging like that is now illegal. (Regardless which of the four countries you are in.)
It is frustrating. All patients living within NHS England boundaries have the assurance of the GP contract stating right of access. Before this year it was personal choice of GP and Practices which was not effective and a postcode lottery. I do think some people in Wales have increasing access. The technology is in place but until access is mandated there will always be issues which are down to culture. Charging patients for any copies of results was outlawed in 2018 by GDPR so you should not be paying any fee.
I must admit the last time I requested copies and had to pay was a long while ago as at the time I had quite a few medical conditions and wanted the up to date info as I was trying to get travel insurance to go and see my sick daughter in Australia. I tend to get my bloods done privately now for thyroid as I can get all the tests I need and am able to see all the results especially as am now on Armour. Things such as liver tests etc I tend to phone up and receptionist tell me either ok or not ok and then go to see doctor if more info required.
