The NHS Care Records Service (NHS CRS) has launched a communication campaign aimed at all NHS staff.
Strategic health authorities have been working with NHS Connecting for Health on plans to distribute important information to all NHS staff in England, including AHPs.
The main objective of the campaign is to explain what the NHS CRS is, how it will impact on the roles of various providers of patient care, and answer some of the questions raised by its introduction.
With the NHS CRS, NHS organisations in England increasingly will store all patient health care records electronically. For the first time, AHPs, along with clinicians at GP surgeries, clinics, hospitals and other care facilities, will be able to see the same information on their patients' records.
"For community-based allied health professionals, the NHS CRS may provide access to IT for the first time and will enable them to play a much greater role in 'joined up', safe and convenient care for patients."
Clinical lead for AHPs and clinical services manager from Southampton General Hospital, Jan Laidlow (nee Dowsett), believes having the right information at the right time will be of great benefit to AHPs.
"For hospital and clinic-based allied health professionals the key differences will be the speed at which full information is available and the accuracy of that information.
"For community-based allied health professionals, the NHS CRS may provide access to IT for the first time and will enable them to play a much greater role in 'joined up', safe and convenient care for patients."
A summary leaflet is being made available to all NHS staff, along with posters and a DVD/video for use in practices and hospitals across England. Communications leads in strategic health authorities will ensure AHPs receive the communication materials.
More detailed, job-specific information will follow in 2006, containing further details for AHPs, nurses, clerical staff, GPs and hospital doctors about how the NHS CRS will affect how they carry out their jobs, as well as guidance on answering patients' questions.
A public information campaign about the NHS CRS and patient confidentiality follows in the spring, once AHPs have had a chance to receive the materials and prepare.
