28.08.12
Access and uptake
The DH has projected an uptake of 5% of patients accessing their health records online by 2015 – a target 2020Health suggests may be out of reach based on the current rate of access.
Less than 1% of GP surgeries currently provide this access, and confusion still surrounds the scheme.
Patients must be encouraged to take a more proactive approach to their own health, and managing their own records is an important step towards this goal. Shifting some responsibility to the patient has significant public health repercussions, and could help to encourage greater engagement with a healthier lifestyle.
But the NHS must be the one to facilitate this access, and more organisations must take the first step to provide access, and publicise and promote this option to their patients. Improving transparency in this way will take both parties, but the benefits will be worth the effort involved.
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