Less than a third of doctors think online access to records is a good idea

[shaws]

I have just seen the above headline in Pulse online.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

shaws,

Are you quite sure you didn't merge TWO headlines?

Less than a third of doctors think

Online access to records is a good idea

(Helvella falls off his own chair laughing at this! But somehow that is how I immediately read your post!!

Rod

(On the basis that "doctors" are countable, I feel that should be "fewer" rather than "less"! But that is obviously Pulse's choice of words.)

[shaws Administrator in reply to helvella]

I laughed at your interpretation of the headline.

[LouiseRoberts in reply to helvella]

Rod! lol!

*like*

xx

[siskin in reply to LouiseRoberts]

Like it,made me smile

[foxglove in reply to helvella]

Good comment Rod!

Shows that always more ways than one to look at something

[Hidden]

If that's the case, it's good enough for me, I'm sold!

[NBob]

To me it says that doctors do not want to relinquish power to the patient. One of the good things about this coalition government is their drive to take power away from the medical professionals and give more power to the patient. The article says

"In a bid to make the NHS more ‘customer friendly’, the former health secretary Andrew Lansley pledged that GPs would have to facilitate patients being able to book appointments, access their records and contact their GP via a secure email system by 2015, as part of the Government’s 10 year Information Strategy." Fantastic.

Many organisations such as banks and even on-line shops have secure access to individuals electronic records.

Amazon for example has secure access so that no-one else can see what I have bought, see how much I've spent or get my bank account details. As some one on Pulse said, the NHS doesn't have to re-invent the wheel.

It also says to me that doctors are unaware of the requirements of the Data Protection Act which make it illegal for third parties to access personal information, and therefore patient confidentiality is encoded in the DPA. Either that or they are just making weak excuses. Wonder which one?

Having easy on line access to your patient notes would allow you to quickly read what doctors write about you and allow you to correct mistakes or insert information. For example, my GP "forgot" to put my signs and symptoms on my electronic record,which I have had amended under Good Medical Practice and the Data Protection Act. The GP didn't like this, amazingly enough.

On another It note, i find it bonkers that i have to call my GP at 8:00 to participate in the 8:00 lottery to get an appointment with a GP. This means that i have to take a day off work to get an appointment for minor issues. My GP surgery doesn't have an email address never mind the GP. it should be really easy to book appointments on line. Some times I want to see my GP for non urgent stuff so why should I have to do the 8 o'clock lottery? Madness, utter madness!

Yet more barriers to good health.

[poing]

I booked an appointment online last week - the first time ever. But of a shock to find out that it was possible.

It was nice to be able to see which doctors were around and when without having to take up time with the receptionist. For some reason every GP in my surgery seems to be only on for one morning or afternoon a week - rubbish for continuity.

[Duchy82]

my surgery is going towards the access online of medical records thing can't remember when from but i think within the year

[shaws Administrator in reply to Duchy82]

It will be interesting to read what they say about us.

[Duchy82 in reply to shaws]

Absolutely although i always sneak a peak when im there and get some snippets of what is written, its just going to mean that they have to be more politically correct with what they write.