Does anyone know if your new GP has to put your previous paper records onto their electronic system. I transferred to a new surgery in Oct 2012 and the new surgery don't look at my previous records for reference. I just wondered if they are obligated to put them onto their system and if so how long they are given to do this?
Thanks in advance
Written by
blackqueen65
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
After all, that would involve digitising maybe 90 or 100 years of records for some people. The cost and difficulty would be ridiculous for the marginal benefit to many patients.
This is, indeed, one of the big advantages of digital records - transfer can be more or less instant and complete. (Yes - I know the downsides as well!)
But there might be a time window for which they are supposed to do a transfer to digital?
My medical records have only been summarised in my electronic health record at my current GP surgery.
It notes major medical things from my past, like when I had my thumb sewn back on and a referral to gynae. A few words on each and that's it. Everything else dates from when I joined the current surgery.
I've been a patient here for five years, which isn't so long ago really, and so I reckon they must have had electronic records before then... but maybe the record systems weren't compatible between the old surgery and the new? I don't think they recognised the importance of stuff like interoperability between software systems for a quite a while - and even now I think they have trouble achieving it.
Somehow, I can't see them updating electronic records by hand.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.