Information for patients

An icon of a book open

Information for patients

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the Northamptonshire Care Record?

Your local health and social care organisations have a duty to keep complete, accurate and up-to-date information about your care so that you can receive the best possible support. When appropriate they also share information with other professionals that are supporting you, which could include GPs, hospital-based specialists, social workers, nurses, psychologists and health visitors. To support this a new process has been put in place in Northamptonshire, which electronically joins up your care records, at the point of care, from your local hospital, GP practices and community services. This is called the Northamptonshire Care Record (NCR).

2. Which organisations are involved?

The following organisations are participating in the Northamptonshire Care Record:

  • Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
  • Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
  • Northamptonshire GP practices
  • East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust
  • North Northamptonshire Council
  • West Northamptonshire Council
  • Northamptonshire Children's Trust

The programme is supported by:

  • NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board (NICB)

3. How are my records shared?

There has been no single system used across Northamptonshire by healthcare providers to enable efficient collaboration on your direct care. Previously, patient information and care records will have been shared via traditional methods such as secure post, fax or email, which can be slow and, at times, unsafe and unreliable. Professionals can now use the Northamptonshire Care Record to view your details automatically through the computer systems they have access to already, allowing better decision-making and continuity of care to be provided. Information will be used by those treating or assessing you to ensure your care and treatment is safer, easier and faster. Information is only accessed by those people directly involved in your care, for example by a hospital doctor or your GP, who would be able to see prescribed medications or treatment you are receiving.

4. What kind of information is shared?

The Northamptonshire Care Record contains up-to-date and relevant care information about you, at the time you are speaking to the care professional.  Not all information is shared by all providers. Examples of information that is shared include:

  • Your name, address and NHS number to help identify you correctly
  • Details of people involved in your care, appointments and visits
  • Medicines you have been prescribed and details of medication reactions and allergies
  • Test results, referrals, clinic letters and discharge information to ensure people caring for you have all the information they need to treat you

Certain sensitive information is never shared, for example sexual health information.

5. Is it legal for my information to be shared?

Under the Data Protection Act 2018, the data that’s shared in the Northamptonshire Care Record is being shared for the purposes of direct care. This means that consent from the patient or service user is not needed to create a care record.

However, the processing of personal data in the delivery of direct care and for providers’ administrative purposes meets the following Article 6 and 9 conditions of the: Data Protection Act 2018/General Data Protection Regulations 2016:

Article 6(1)(e) ‘…necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority…’.

Article 9(2)(h) ‘necessary for the purposes of preventative or occupational medicine for the assessment of the working capacity of the employee, medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems and services...”  

Health and social care services are under legal obligations to share information for the purpose of direct care.

We also recognise your rights established under UK case law collectively known as the “Common Law Duty of Confidentiality”

6. Who makes decisions about how my information is used?

Your direct care providers such as your GP, hospitals, ambulance services and local council make the decisions about how your information is used. They exercise overall control of your information and are ultimately in charge of and responsible for its processing for the purposes of providing your direct care. They are known as joint controllers in accordance with Data Protection law.

7. Why is it better if my information is shared?

To provide the best treatment and support care professionals need access to the most up-to-date information about you in one place. This information can be from a range of services including hospitals, community services and your GP practice. Sharing information between these services will allow those that are caring for you, especially when more than one professional is involved, to make better joined-up decisions and work with you more effectively. Above all, professionals involved in your care will have access to the same information which will mean less repetition, as well as faster and safer care and treatment. For example, if you go into hospital in an emergency, the person treating you will know what medication your GP has prescribed for you. It also means that when you visit your GP, they can see what treatments or tests you have received in hospital.

8. Who can view my record?

Only professionals who are directly supporting your care have access to your care record and wherever possible they will inform you that they are accessing your care record. This may not be possible every time (in an emergency, for example); however, each time a person accesses your information there will be a clear record or audit of it. You can ask for further information from your care professional or to opt-out of sharing your information at any time. See Section 11 below for more details on how you can opt out.

9. Who supports the Northamptonshire Care Record?

The Northamptonshire Care Record system is hosted by NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board (NICB) on behalf of the other NHS and social care organisations in our county which make up Integrated Care Northamptonshire. It is overseen by senior managers and clinicians across all partner organisations.

10. Who can see my care record or which parts of my record can be shared?

There are rules in place to make sure that only those directly involved in your care will use the Northamptonshire Care Record to view information about you, and only on a ‘need to know’ basis. Also, certain sensitive information is never shared, for example sexual health information. Where possible a care professional will inform you that they are using the Northamptonshire Care Record to access your details. This will ensure you are fully aware and given the opportunity to find out more information about the Northamptonshire Care Record.

11. Can I opt out of my records being shared?

You can choose to ‘opt out’ and not share your information if you wish. Opting out will mean that medical professionals may not always have access to your full medical record, including in the event of emergencies. If you still prefer your information not to be shared, please talk to your GP practice and submit a formal objection which will then be reviewed.

12. Who can amend or add information to my care record?

Your care information will always be updated locally by the services and professionals that are supporting you and these updates will be present in your care record the next time it is viewed.

13. How do I know my records are kept secure?

The Northamptonshire Care Record is a system that has undergone robust risk assessments and testing to ensure it meets the technical and security requirements of Data Protection law as well as those of the NHS. Your information will always be updated locally by the services and professionals that are supporting your direct care and it will only by accessed by them on a need-to-know basis.

14. How will I know when my care record is being accessed?

Whenever possible, professionals will inform you that they are accessing your care record. This may not be possible every time, for example in an emergency. However, each time a person accesses your information there is a clear record of it and information on this can be provided to you by your GP. Only staff members who are directly supporting your care will have access to your care record.

15. Can I access my own record?

Yes, you have the right to see the data that is being shared about you and to have it amended or removed if you think it is inaccurate (there is no right to have accurate medical records deleted except when ordered by a Court of Law). The right to access your record is known as ‘the right of subject access’. You can make a request for this information from a care provider. Each care provider has an agreed right of subject access process in accordance with Data Protection laws. The information contained within the Care Plan section of the Northamptonshire Care Record will be appropriately processed and issued by the care provider receiving the request.

If your health or care provider holds information about you, and you make a subject access request they will: 

  • Give you a description of it
  • Tell you why it is being held
  • Tell you who it could be shared with
  • Let you have a copy of the information in an intelligible form.

If you would like to make a ‘subject access request’, you will need to contact your health or care provider’s Data Protection Officer verbally or in writing. You may also find specific details on how to make a subject access request on your care providers website. 

16. How long will my record be retained?

The data will be retained in line with the law and national guidance.

17. I have heard of the Summary Care Record – how does the Northamptonshire Care Record differ from this?

The Northamptonshire Care Record provides a more detailed view of your health, care and treatment records from your local health and social care organisations in Northamptonshire. The Summary Care Record (SCR) is used nationally and contains important information from the record held by your GP practice. You can ask to view or add information to your SCR by visiting your GP Practice.

Access to SCR information means that your care in other settings away from your GP Practice is safer, reducing the risk of prescribing errors. It also helps avoid delays when you need urgent care.

At a minimum, the SCR holds important information about;

  • your name, address, date of birth and NHS number
  • your current medication
  • allergies and details of any previous bad reactions to medicines you may have.

Some patients, including many with long term health conditions, have previously agreed to have additional information shared as part of their Summary Care Record. This additional information includes information about significant medical history (past and present), reasons for medications, care plan information and immunisations.

By including this additional Information in your SCR, health and care staff can give you better care if you need health care away from your GP practice:

  • in an emergency
  • when you're on holiday
  • when your surgery is closed
  • at out-patient clinics
  • when you visit a pharmacy

Additional Information includes extra information from your GP record, including:

  • health problems like dementia or diabetes
  • details of your carer
  • your treatment preferences
  • communication needs, for example if you have hearing difficulties or need an interpreter

When you are treated away from your usual doctor's surgery, the health care staff there can't see your GP medical records. Looking at your SCR can speed up your care and make sure you are given the right medicines and treatment.

The only people who might see your Summary Care Record are registered and regulated healthcare professionals, for example doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and staff working under their direct supervision. Your Summary Care record will only be accessed so a healthcare professional can give you individual care. Staff working for organisations that do not provide direct care are not able to view your Summary Care Record.

Before accessing a Summary Care Record healthcare staff will always ask your permission to view it, unless it is a medical emergency and you are unable to give permission.

If you already opted out of the Summary Care Record you will still need to let us know if you want to opt out of letting health and care professionals use the Northamptonshire Care Record to access information about you when they treat you.

You can visit the NHS Digital website for more information on the SCR.

18. I have heard of the Northamptonshire Analytical Reporting Platform (NARP). What is that and how does it relate to the Northamptonshire Care Record? 

To support direct care, clinicians can have access to your full record for use as part of direct patient care analytics.  The patient identifiable summary clinical information is available in the NARP for these purposes and clinicians can then link back into the Northamptonshire Care Record for a more detailed view of your care record where deemed necessary.

The NARP enables the sharing of information for the purposes of care intelligence, research and planning. These are classified as secondary uses of your information.

Currently, your information held in separate systems such as social services is not visible to health care providers, and health care provider information is not visible to social care providers. This leads to silo-based decision making, negatively impacting on care planning, and ultimately impacting on you.

The NARP will provide joined up health and care data to support population health reporting, real time operational dashboards and patient level decision support tools that can be embedded into the Northamptonshire Care Record. 

The NARP segments data into:

  • anonymised – this means your identifying particulars or details are removed so you cannot be identified
  • pseudonymised – meaning your identifying particulars or details are replaced with a value (e.g. reference number) which does not allow you to be identified
  • patient level data – this segment will have all your identifying particulars or details intact so you can be identified.

Access to these segments are controlled by Role Based Access Controls which means that only those involved in your direct care (such as your GP, clinicians, paramedics) will have access to your patient level data.  

You will be able to opt-out of use of your confidential patient information for secondary purposes unless there is a specific exemption through the National Data Opt-Out process that is applicable. Further information on National Data Opt-Out is available on the NHS Digital website.

You will be informed via your GP about your option of Opting-out of data sharing for secondary uses. If you have already opted out of sharing your data for purposes other than direct care, you information will be excluded from the flow of data from the GP systems into the NARP.

19. Will social services be able to use the Northamptonshire Care Record to assess my benefits?

No, the Northamptonshire Care Record is only ever used for direct patient care, treatment and support by professionals involved in your care.

20. Can the Government view or use my record?

No, the Northamptonshire Care Record is only ever used for direct patient care, treatment and support by professionals involved in your care.

21. If I receive treatment or care outside of Northamptonshire will this update the Northamptonshire Care Record?

The Northamptonshire Care Record allows professionals involved in your care to view your care information and improve the services they provide. The system is growing and over time will include your care records held by organisations from surrounding areas. In the meantime, organisations and professionals outside of Northamptonshire will still continue to share information in other ways, which may take a little more time.

22. Will you be sharing my information with or selling it to research or insurance companies?

No, your personal information will never be shared with or sold to external or private organisations including research or insurance companies.

23. When will patient information start to be shared?

Currently the system combines records from all local GP practices in Northamptonshire, Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT). Eventually the shared records will also include data from other local organisations, including social care providers, the voluntary and community sector, and East Midlands Ambulance Service.

24. What do I do if I would like to make a complaint about the Northamptonshire Care Record?

Please contact your care provider’s Data Protection Officer to raise your concerns.

25. What happens if a GP practice chooses not to allow its patient records to be shared?

All patients registered at that GP practice can request that their GP shares their information with other health and care professionals via the Northamptonshire Care Record.

Information for professionals

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Information for professionals

The Northamptonshire Care Record (NCR) is a new solution to enable sharing of patient records between health and care professionals to provide an integrated care record across the county.

The NCR currnely brings together data from:

  • General practice
  • Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
  • Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

and then later, data from:

  • North and West Northamptonshire Councils (adult and child social services)
  • East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust
  • Voluntary sector organisations involved in direct care (where appropriate)

Is the NCR available for use?

  • Yes, currently the system combines records from all local GP practices in Northamptonshire, Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT). 
  • The following information is now available:
    • Patient Demographics from the Spine
    • General Practice Data – EMIS & TPP GP Practices
    • Range of Acute Hospitals Data – Kettering General Hospital & Northampton General Hospital
    • Select data from Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
  • At a later stage data will be added from:
    • North and West Northamptonshire Council (adult and children’s social services)
    • East Midlands Ambulance Service

Send us your feedback

Please share with us your experiences of using the system so far. Your feedback and thoughts will help us shape future developments and allow us to improve the system so that you can deliver better and safer care for patients. Please take a few minutes to complete this short feedback form

Submit a NCR Use Case

We are keen to learn more about how you use the system and how it could be used further to meet particular goals and outcomes. Based on your insight and experience please submit a use case.

This use case should be a description of how the system can be used to achieve a specific goal.  We are grateful for your thoughts and we will review your submission and consider what could be enhanced as we continuously work to develop and improve the system.  

Please submit your case on the online use case form

Resources available to download

A range of resources have been produced to accompany the launch of the Northamptonshire Care Record including posters, screensavers and patient leaflets. These can be downloaded for use on the 'Resources to Download' on the NCR homepage . Hard-copies of posters and leaflets can be requested by contacting northantsicb.northamptonshirecarerecord@nhs.net

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the Northamptonshire Care Record?

Local health and social care organisations have a duty to keep complete, accurate and up-to-date patient information so they can provide the best possible care and support, and when appropriate this information is also shared with other health and care professionals. To support this a new process has been put in place in Northamptonshire, which electronically joins up patient records, at the point of care, between our county’s NHS and social care organisations. This is called the Northamptonshire Care Record (NCR).

2. Which organisations are involved?

The following organisations are participating in the Northamptonshire Care Record:

  • Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
  • Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
  • Northamptonshire GP practices
  • East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust
  • North Northamptonshire Council
  • West Northamptonshire Council
  • Northamptonshire Children’s Trust

The programme is supported by:

  • NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board (NICB)

3. How are patient records shared?

There has been no single system used across Northamptonshire by healthcare providers to enable efficient collaboration on direct patient care. Previously, patient information and care records will have been shared via traditional methods such as secure post, fax or email, which can be slow and, at times, unsafe and unreliable. The Northamptonshire Care Record enables professionals to view patient details automatically through their existing computer systems, allowing better decision-making and continuity of care to be provided. Information is used by those treating or assessing a person to ensure patient care and treatment is safer, easier and faster.

4. What kind of information is shared?

The Northamptonshire Care Record contains up-to-date and relevant care information about patients and service users, at the time they are speaking to health and care professionals. Not all information is shared by all providers – the NCR is a subset of key information. Examples of information that is shared include:

  • Name, address and NHS number to help identify the individual correctly
  • Details of people involved in their care, appointments and visits
  • Medicines they have been prescribed and details of medication reactions and allergies
  • Test results, referrals, clinic letters, discharge information to ensure professionals have all the information they need to provide treatment and care

Certain sensitive information is never shared, for example sexual health information.

5. Is it legal for information to be shared?

Under the Data Protection Act 2018, the data that’s shared in the Northamptonshire Care Record is being shared for the purposes of direct care. This means that consent from the patient or service user is not needed to create a care record.

However, the processing of personal data in the delivery of direct care and for providers’ administrative purposes meets the following Article 6 and 9 conditions of the: Data Protection Act 2018/General Data Protection Regulations 2016:

Article 6(1)(e) ‘…necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority…’.

Article 9(2)(h) ‘necessary for the purposes of preventative or occupational medicine for the assessment of the working capacity of the employee, medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems and services...”  

Health and social care services are under legal obligations to share information for the purpose of direct care.

We will also recognise the rights established under UK case law collectively known as the “Common Law Duty of Confidentiality”

6. Who makes decisions about how patient information is used?

Direct care providers make the decisions about how patient and service user information is used. They exercise overall control of the information and are ultimately in charge of and responsible for its processing for the purposes of providing direct care. They are known as joint controllers in accordance with Data Protection law.

7. Why is it better if patient information is shared?

To provide the best treatment and support care professionals need access to the most up-to-date information about their patients in one place. This allows professionals involved in providing care to make better joined-up decisions and work with patients more effectively. All professionals involved in providing care will have access to the same information, which will not only enable faster and safer care and treatment but will also reduce the need for patients to have to repeat their stories to each person involved in their care. For example, emergency departments will be able to instantly see what medication has been prescribed for a patient by their GP – and GPs can see what treatments or tests they have received in hospital.

8. Who can view patient records?

Only professionals who are directly supporting a patient or service user’s care have access to their care records and, wherever possible, they should inform the individual that they are accessing their records. This may not be possible every time (in an emergency, for example); however, each time a user accesses patient information there will be a clear record or audit of it. Patients can ask for further information from care professionals or to opt-out of sharing their information at any time. See Section 11 below for more details on opting out.

9. Who runs the Northamptonshire Care Record?

The Northamptonshire Care Record system is hosted by NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board (NICB) on behalf of the other NHS and social care organisations in our county which make up Integrated Care Northamptonshire. It is overseen by senior managers and clinicians across all partner organisations.

10. Can patients choose who can see their care record or which parts of their record can be shared?

There are rules in place to make sure that only those directly involved in patient care will use the Northamptonshire Care Record to view information about them, and only on a ‘need to know’ basis. Also, certain sensitive information is never shared, for example sexual health information. Where possible, health and care professionals should inform individuals that they are using the Northamptonshire Care Record to access their details. This will ensure they are fully aware and given the opportunity to find out more information about the Northamptonshire Care Record.

11. Can patients opt out of their records being shared?

Yes, patients and service users can choose not to share their information when they register with their GP practice or at any time when speaking to those involved in their care or those who want to view their care record. Opting out will mean that medical professionals may not always have access to their full medical record, including in the event of emergencies. If they still prefer their information not to be shared they can talk to their GP practice and submit a formal objection which will then be reviewed.

12. Who can amend or add information to care records?

Care information will always be updated locally by the services and professionals that use the records. These updates will be present in the patient’s care record the next time it is viewed.

13. How do I know records are kept secure?

The NCR is a system that has undergone robust risk assessments and testing to ensure it meets the technical and security requirements of Data Protection law as well as those of the NHS. Information will always be updated locally by the services and professionals supporting an individual's direct care and it will only by accessed by them on a need-to-know basis.

14. How will patients know when their care record is being accessed?

Whenever possible, professionals should inform patients and service users when they are accessing your care record. This may not be possible every time, for example in an emergency. However, each time information about an individual is accessed, there is a clear record of it. This record can be provided to the individual if requested. Only professionals who are directly supporting an individual’s care will have access to their care record.

15. Can patients access their own records?

Yes, patients have the right to see the data that is being shared about them and to have it amended or removed if they think it is inaccurate (there is no right to have accurate medical records deleted except when ordered by a Court of Law). The right to access their own record is known as ‘the right of subject access’. Individuals can make a request for this information from a care provider. Each care provider has an agreed right of subject access process in accordance with Data Protection laws. The information contained within the Care Plan section of the NCR will be appropriately processed and issued by the care provider receiving the request.

Health or care providers holds information about an individual making a subject access request are required to: 

  • Give them a description of it
  • Tell them why it is being held
  • Tell them who it could be shared with
  • Let them have a copy of the information in an intelligible form

Individuals wishing to make a ‘subject access request’ are advised to contact their health or care provider’s Data Protection Officer verbally or in writing or look for information on their care provider's website. 

16. How long will patient records be retained?

The data will be retained in line with the law and national guidance.

17. How does the NCR differ from the Summary Care Record?

The Northamptonshire Care Record provides a more detailed view of health, care and treatment records from local health and social care organisations in Northamptonshire. The Summary Care Record (SCR) is used nationally and contains important information from the record held by GP practices. Patients are advised that they can view or add information to their SCR by visiting your GP practice.

Access to SCR information means that care in other settings away from an individual's GP practice is safer, reducing the risk of prescribing errors. It also helps avoid delays when they need urgent care.

At a minimum, the SCR holds important information about an individual's:

  • name, address, date of birth and NHS number
  • current medication
  • allergies and details of any previous bad reactions to medicines

Some patients, including many with long term health conditions, have previously agreed to have additional information shared as part of their Summary Care Record. This additional information includes information about significant medical history (past and present), reasons for medications, care plan information and immunisations.

By including this additional Information in the SCR, health and care staff can provide better care when it is needed away from a GP practice:

  • in an emergency
  • when on holiday
  • when their surgery is closed
  • at out-patient clinics
  • when visiting a pharmacy

Additional Information will include extra information from GP records, including:

  • health problems like dementia or diabetes
  • details of carers
  • treatment preferences
  • communication needs, for example hearing difficulties or interpreting needs

When individuals are treated away from their usual doctor's surgery, health care staff there can't see their GP medical records. Looking at their SCR can speed up their care and make sure they are given the right medicines and treatment.

The only people who might see a Summary Care Record are registered and regulated healthcare professionals, for example doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and staff working under their direct supervision. A Summary Care record will only be accessed so a healthcare professional can provide individual care. Staff working for organisations that do not provide direct care are not able to view a Summary Care Record.

Before accessing a Summary Care Record healthcare staff must ask the individual's permission to view it, unless it is a medical emergency and they are unable to give permission.

If they have already opted out of the Summary Care Record, patients will still need to advise if they want to opt out of letting health and care professionals use the Northamptonshire Care Record to access information about them when providing treatment.

More information on the SCR can be found on the NHS Digital website.

18. How does the Northamptonshire Analytical Reporting Platform (NARP) relate to the NCR?

To support direct care, clinicians can have access to a patient's full record for use as part of direct patient care analytics. The patient identifiable summary clinical information is available in the NARP for these purposes and clinicians can then link back into the Northamptonshire Care Record for a more detailed view of an individual's care record where deemed necessary.

The NARP enables the sharing of information for the purposes of care intelligence, research and planning. These are classified as secondary uses of patient information.

Currently, patient information held in separate systems such as social services is not visible to health care providers, and health care provider information is not visible to social care providers. This leads to silo-based decision making, negatively impacting on care planning, and ultimately impacting on the patient.

The NARP will provide joined up health and care data to support population health reporting, real time operational dashboards and patient level decision support tools that can be embedded into the Northamptonshire Care Record. 

The NARP segments data into:

  • anonymised – identifying particulars or details are removed so patients cannot be identified
  • pseudonymised – identifying particulars or details are replaced with a value (e.g. reference number) which does not allow identification
  • patient level data – identifying particulars or details intact so patients can be identified.

Access to these segments is controlled by Role Based Access Controls which means that only those involved in direct care (such as GPs, clinicians, paramedics) will have access to patient level data.  

Individuals will be able to opt out of use of their confidential patient information for secondary purposes unless there is a specific exemption through the National Data Opt-Out process that is applicable. Further information on National Data Opt-Out is available on the NHS Digital website.

Patients are advised that they will be informed via their GP about their option of opting-out of data sharing for secondary uses. If they have already opted out of sharing their data for purposes other than direct care, their information will be excluded from the flow of data from the GP systems into the NARP.

19. Will social services be able to use the Northamptonshire Care Record to assess benefits?

No, the Northamptonshire Care Record is only ever used for direct patient care, treatment and support by professionals involved in providing care.

20. Can the Government view or use the record?

No, the Northamptonshire Care Record is only ever used for direct patient care, treatment and support by professionals involved in providing care.

21. Will the Northamptonshire Care Record be updated with information about treatment or care provided outside Northamptonshire?

The Northamptonshire Care Record allows professionals involved in patient care to view relevant care information and improve the services they provide. The system is growing and over time will include care records held by organisations from surrounding areas. In the meantime, organisations and professionals outside of Northamptonshire will still continue to share information in other ways, which may take a little more time.

22. Will information be shared with or sold to research or insurance companies?

No, personal information will never be shared with or sold to external or private organisations including research or insurance companies.

23. When will patient information start to be shared?

Currently the system combines records from all local GP practices in Northamptonshire, Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT). Eventually the shared records will also include data from other local organisations, including social care providers, the voluntary and community sector, and East Midlands Ambulance Service.

24. How can patients make a complaint about improper use of the Northamptonshire Care Record?

Individuals are advised to contact their care provider’s Data Protection Officer to raise any concerns.

25. What happens if a GP practice chooses not to allow its patient records to be shared?

All patients registered at that GP practice are entitled to request that their GP shares their information with other health and care professionals via the Northamptonshire Care Record.

Case studies

An icon of three people stood next to eachother

Case studies

Ivy's story

Ivy is an 81-year-old widow living on her own at home, where she wants to stay.

Ivy takes medicines for type 2 diabetes and was in hospital recently after a fall. She has regular contact with social care, intermediate care and diabetes care teams, plus her GP.

In one day she can talk to several different care professionals and gets frustrated at having to repeat her story, because they don’t have access to a common set of notes.

Ivy feels as if she is the main line of communication between organisations and worries that she might forget to share something important.

What difference does the NCR make?

The Northamptonshire Care Record will allow the sharing of information and better co-ordination between different health and care organisations.

Shared networks and mobile digital devices will give all health and care staff supporting Ivy access to key information about her so they do not have to keep asking her for it – removing some of the burden she feels.

Health and care staff will also be able to record the care they provide while in Ivy’s home, keeping her GP and others providing her care up to date.

New digital systems will also allow the sharing of information between Ivy’s GP and hospital services. If Ivy is admitted to hospital again, staff there will be able to view her up-to-date health and care record straight away.

Rita's story

Rita is an A&E triage nurse and is on duty in the emergency department (ED) at Northampton General Hospital when Ivy arrives by ambulance. She was found on the floor at home, cold and confused.

The ambulance crew have already asked Ivy about her history, medications and allergies. Rita doesn’t have this information so she has to ask Ivy it all again.

Ivy worries that she has missed something important, so Rita calls her GP. This takes Rita away from directly looking after people for about 15 minutes. Precious practice time is also taken up printing and faxing a summary of Ivy’s records through to the hospital.

If it had been busier in the emergency department Rita would not have had time to do this and would have had to rely on the information Ivy was able to provide.

What difference does the NCR make?

The Northamptonshire Care Record means Rita and her emergency department colleagues are able to view up-to-date information about the patients they see.

Because of this, Rita doesn’t have to rely on triage notes about Ivy. Instead, she can access Ivy’s information from within the system she uses in the hospital.

This means that Rita knows the care package Ivy has in place and which other agencies are involved in her care. She can communicate with these services so they know Ivy is in the hospital.

From Ivy’s record, Rita can see that Ivy is diabetic so she notifies the hospital diabetes team. Thanks to the new system, the ED consultant Raj knows exactly what medication Ivy is on.

By writing up a chart for Ivy straight away, he makes sure she doesn’t miss a critical dose while in ED. Meanwhile, Rita uses the system to identify and call the relevant services to re-establish Ivy’s care package as soon as she has been reviewed by the diabetes team. This means that Ivy can go home the same day, easing her anxiety and saving a hospital bed for someone who really needs it.

Resources to download

Connecting your care in Northamptonshire

The way health and care professionals in Northamptonshire use the information they hold about you has changed.

Local providers of health and social care have a duty to keep complete, accurate and up-to-date information about your care to ensure you can receive the best possible treatment and support.

However, when these records need to be shared between different organisations this has previously had to be done via traditional methods such as secure post, fax or email, which can be slow and sometimes unreliable.

All this has changed in Northamptonshire as we introduce a new process for joining up your care records digitally so any professional who’s directly involved in your care can instantly access the information they need to support you. This is called the Northamptonshire Care Record (NCR).

What is the Northamptonshire Care Record?

The information held about you in the Northamptonshire Care Record is the same as that which is already held about you by your GP or anyone else involved in your care. The difference is it will be accessible to health and care professionals instantly.

By modernising the way GPs, hospital specialists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, health visitors and other professionals access your records, we’re making it much quicker and easier for you to get the best possible care.

All information held in the Northamptonshire Care Record is completely secure and can only be seen by those who are directly involved in your care.

We don’t need you to do anything – but we want you to be aware of what’s happening and why it's so important. 

If you have any queries about the NCR you can access detailed frequently asked questions in the 'Information for patients' section below.

Are you using the Northamptonshire Care Record? Send us your feedback!

If you are a health and care professional that is already using the NCR system, we would really appreciate your feedback on your experiences so far to help us identify areas we can improve. Please spare a few minutes to complete this short feedback form.

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