GP online services toolkit

Working with online record access - the challenges

Providing record access can be beneficial for patients allowing them to better manage their health and ultimately reduce burden on staff. However, it can also present ongoing challenges for practices.  

The impact of online record access should be considered for every patient, not just those who currently have record access or who may currently have known safeguarding risks.  Patients are entitiled to access their health information and may obtain record access at any time. Any risk of harm from a safeguarding risks may fluctuate.  Everyone who enters or files new information in patients’ records or discusses GP online services with patients should have awareness of these concerns.  This includes temporary staff, including locums and trainees.

This section of the guidance is about how managing record access affects the everyday work of the practice.

• Working with automatic record access (726 KB DOC) – details of the suggested actions to consider to help manage automatic record access.
• Checklist – Working with automatic record access (58 KB DOC) – A one page summary of the suggested actions to consider to help manage automatic record access.
• Checking patient records–FAQ (60 KB FAQS) - Guidance on how to check patient’s record for evidence that the patient may be at risk from record access.
• SNOMED CT terms that control automatic record access (252 KB DOC) – Guidance on using the SNOMED CT terms created to block individual patient’s receiving automatic record access.
• Flowchart - SNOMED CT terms to manage auto-access (168 KB PDF) – a summary of how and when the SNOMED CT terms function.
• Flowchart - New patient registration record access process (171 KB PDF) – A guide to manage automatic record access for a new patient registering with the practice.
• Introducing Online Test Results (179 KB PDF) – Guidance on how to prepare patients for online access to their test results.