If you are registered with a GP practice in England, you will have a Summary Care Record (SCR) unless you have chosen not to have one. Your SCR contains the following basic information:

• The medicines you are taking
• Your allergies
• Bad reactions you may have to certain medicines
• It also includes your name, address, date of birth and unique NHS Number, which helps to identify you correctly.

You may also choose to have an enhanced summary care record (ESCR), which contains details of any medications, allergies and any bad reactions to medications you have had and the following information:

• Significant medical history (past and present)
• Reason for medication
• Anticipatory care information (such as information about the management of long term conditions)
• Communication preferences
• End of life care information if appropriate
• Immunisations
• Specific sensitive information like fertility treatments, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy terminations and gender reassignment will not be automatically included with the information but can be added by request

An SCR or ESCR is used in a number of healthcare settings and will provide healthcare professionals with any information they wouldn’t otherwise have. For example, when you’re visiting an urgent care centre or being admitted to a hospital, staff could view your SCR and discover you are on a particular medication or have allergies.

If you do not want a summary care record, please complete a Summary Care Record Opt Out form.

What will happen if I choose not have a Summary Care Record?

The NHS will always endeavour to provide you with the best care possible. However, it could mean that there might be times when key health information about you is not available.

For example, if you do not have a summary care record and are taken into A&E, then the staff in A&E may not be able to access your current medications, allergies or bad reactions to medicines if they cannot access your summary care record. The same could apply if you need a doctor outside surgery hours.

More information is available from the NHS: Summary Care Record.