Dorset County Council have asked us to share the following information with parishioners regarding the Dorset Care Record:
At present, health and social care organisations in Dorset hold different sets of records about you. Information in different records may be duplicated or incomplete. The Dorset Care Record is a new confidential computer record that will join up all these different records to create one complete and up-to-date record about you. Over time this will help improve the care you receive.
Within some services, information is already shared by telephone and letter. Having the ability under the Dorset Care Record to access the same information and share it more readily will allow medical and social care professionals to decide more quickly what treatment you may need and the best way to help and care for you.
Records will only be looked at by authorised staff who are directly involved in your care, which means your record will only be shared with professionals who need it to provide treatment, care and support for you. The type of information that will be shared will include your up to date personal contact details and care needs; a list of diagnosed conditions, medications, allergies, test results and referrals, clinic letters and discharge information.
Among the benefits of the Dorset Care Record are improved coordination, clear decisions about your care, not having to repeat your details to different professionals, having a care record that is always available and accurate, better coordinated care around your needs and the ability for professionals to better understand your situation.
The Dorset Care Record is a partnership supported by NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, Dorset County Hospital, Poole Hospital, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals, Dorset HealthCare, Dorset County Council, Borough of Poole and Bournemouth Councils and the South Western Ambulance Service.
Look out for more information on the DCR – including a leaflet about consent – in GP surgeries, medical centres, hospitals and council buildings over the coming months. More details are available online at www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/dorset-care-record .
Do let us know if you would like someone to speak at a meeting in your village. If you have an enquiry please contact dorsetcarerecord@dorsetcc.gov.uk or ring 01305 224527