My Care Record enables health and care professionals to access information about you to improve your care.

The Elms Medical Practice is part of My Care Record, an approach to improving care by joining up health and care information. Wherever possible, health and care professionals will be able to access your records from other services when it is needed for your care. For example, a hospital doctor, community nurse, or social worker involved in your care could view the information they need from your GP record. More information, including answers to frequently asked questions and a list of the organisations that are taking part can be found on the My Care Record website.

When you are treated away from your usual doctor's surgery, the health care staff there can't see your GP medical records. Looking at your SCR can speed up your care and make sure you are given the right medicines and treatment. This can be helpful:

• in an emergency
• when you're on holiday
• when your surgery is closed
• at out-patient clinics
• when you visit a pharmacy

Before accessing a Summary Care Record healthcare staff will always ask your permission to view it, unless it is a medical emergency and you are unable to give permission.

Your Summary Care Record is a short summary of your GP medical records. It tells other health and care staff who care for you about the medicines you take and your allergies.

Some patients, including many with long term health conditions, have previously agreed to have  Additional Information shared as part of their Summary Care Record. This additional information includes information about significant medical history (past and present), reasons for medications, care plan information and immunisations.

For more information or to opt out of sharing please click here.

The NHS uses information about patients (patient data) to research, plan and improve:

• the services we offer
• the treatment and care patients receive

We get this data from your GP surgery, hospitals and other healthcare providers. The organisation that collects your data is called NHS Digital.

To help improve services, NHS Digital shares this data with researchers from organisations such as universities or hospitals. This type of data-sharing has been happening for many years.

All data that is collected and shared is protected by strict rules around privacy, confidentiality and security. The NHS never sell patient data or share it with insurance or marketing companies.

To see more information or to Opt Out of data sharing please click here.