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We have been fortunate to benefit from the
enthusiastic involvement of professional and patient stakeholder
groups in order to achieve a wide agreement on principles. The
significant interest, contribution and involvement across the
spectrum has been quite exceptional, and demonstrates the clear
priority given to having a unified, multi-professional approach to
record keeping and quality care.
Computerisation of health records offers the
prospect of rapid sharing of data and information in ways that are
not possible with paper records. The potential benefits of
this, in terms of patient safety, and efficiency and flexibility of
healthcare provision have been widely promoted. There is, however,
disagreement about just what should be shared, and by what
mechanism.
The publication of these SRPG principles,
underpinned by sound research, is likely to guide and accelerate
the processes of information sharing that are crucial for improving
care.
We hope the report, which was commissioned by
NHS Connecting for Health (NHS CFH), will prove
immediately useful to a wide range of professional groups, and that
the principles established are worthy of wider consideration
throughout the NHS.
Dr Alan Hassey
FRCGP
RCGP Health Informatics
Group & SRPG project leader
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