Patient Online Access

From the 31st October, if you are over 16 and have an online account, such as through the NHS App or another online primary care service, you will have the opportunity to be able to see all the consultation notes and health records from your GP surgery written in your records after this date.

Being able to see your record online might help you to manage your medical conditions. You can even access it from anywhere in the world should you require medical treatment on holiday.

Lakeside Healthcare want to keep your data as safe as possible. As an organisation we support the NHS plan to give people better ways to see their personal general practice (GP) health information online. We know that people want to be able to access their health records.

To ensure that you are fully informed and give consent to have your health records visible online / in the NHS app you will need to fill in our online form to gain online access to your health records. For most people this will be a quick process. Some people may need a conversation with a clinician to ensure they are aware of the risks of online access to health records, and we can be assured they are safe, and their data remains secure.

It may take a maximum of 8 weeks for us to activate your online account. You will be informed when your online services have been activated.

Can Access to the online record be declined?

The practice may not be able to offer online access due to several reasons such as concerns that it could cause harm to physical or mental health or where there is reference to third parties.

The practice has the right to remove online access to services. This is rarely necessary but may be the best option if there is evidence that access may be harmful to you. This may occur if someone else is forcing you to give them access to your record or if the record may contain something that may be upsetting or harmful to you. The practice will explain the reason for withdrawing access to you and will reinstate access as quickly as possible.

The NHS App and other online App services are all very secure, so no one can access your information except you.

• You’ll need to make sure you protect your login details.
• Don’t share your password with anyone as they will then have access to your personal information.
• It will be your responsibility to keep your login details and password safe and secure.
• If you know or suspect that your record has been accessed by someone that you have not agreed should see it, then you should change your password immediately. If you can’t do this for some reason, we recommend that you contact the practice so that they can remove online access until you are able to reset your password.
• If you print out any information from your record, it is also your responsibility to keep this secure. If you are at all worried about keeping printed copies safe, we recommend that you do not make copies at all.
• The information that you can see online may be misleading if you rely on it alone to complete insurance, employment or legal reports or forms. Be careful that nobody can see your records on screen when you are using Patient Online and be especially careful if you use a public computer to shut down the browser and switch off the computer after you have finished.

Further Information

Can I choose not to have this enabled?

Yes, we understand that some patients will not want to have this access enabled. They may feel that they cannot prevent other people seeing this information, or that it may be used with an intention that causes you harm. If you wish for this online access to be removed, please continue to complete this form.

You have no access to your future records

On occasions, there may be temporary loss of visibility of some of your records. This may occur where: your primary care team wish to discuss test results before you can view the information on the app. There may be sensitive information in letters received from your hospital or community appointments that your primary care team wishes to discuss with you before you read the information.

Some patients may not see all or some of their future records

This may occur when your primary team feel that there might be some sensitive information on your record that would cause you harm or distress to you if you were to see this. Restrictions may include removing visibility of single consultations, or your whole prospective records

If you cannot see this new form of access in your online app, and you would like to have this, you will need to contact to your primary care team.

Key considerations

Forgotten history

There may be something you have forgotten about in your record that you might find upsetting.

Abnormal results or bad news

If your GP has given you access to test results or letters, you may see something that you find upsetting to you. This may occur before you have spoken to your doctor or while the surgery is closed, and you cannot contact them.

Choosing to share your information with someone

It’s up to you whether you share your information with others – perhaps family members or carers. It’s your choice, but also your responsibility to keep the information safe and secure.

Coercion

If you think you may be pressured into revealing details from your patient record to someone else against your will, it is best that you do not register for access at this time.

Misunderstood information

Your medical record is designed to be used by clinical professionals to ensure that you receive the best possible care. Some of the information within your medical record may be highly technical, written by specialists and not easily understood. If you require further clarification, please contact your Surgery.

• Find out more information about your medical conditions listed in your medical records
• Understand abbreviations used in your medical records
• Directly from your NHS app, which has a specific area to help you understand your records

Information about someone else

If you spot something in the record that is not about you or notice any other errors, please log out of the system immediately and contact the practice as soon as possible.

Should you need additional applicants, please submit another form once completing this one

Access to the following is required on behalf of

Consent must be obtained from the patient before access can be granted

 , as the lead applicant agree the following and sign.