Integrated Care Northamptonshire Expands Access to Vital Care Planning Information Through National Record Locator
Integrated Care Northamptonshire is improving the way important care planning information is shared between health and care professionals, helping ensure that people receive care that reflects their wishes wherever they access NHS services.
The initiative will enable key care planning documents, including ReSPECT plans and Electronic Palliative Care Coordination System (EPaCCS) records, to be made available through the NHS National Record Locator (NRL). This means authorised clinicians can quickly access important information about a person’s care preferences when it is needed most.
A ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) plan records discussions between an individual and healthcare professionals about what matters most to them, treatments they would or would not want to receive, and recommendations for emergency care, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) decisions where appropriate.
EPaCCS, the Electronic Palliative Care Coordination System, helps health and care teams record and share the wishes, preferences and key care information of people who may be approaching the last year of life. By ensuring this information can be found quickly by authorised clinicians, patients can receive more coordinated and personalised care.
The National Record Locator does not create a new record or store information in a separate location. Instead, it helps authorised NHS professionals locate information already held by the team responsible for a person’s care. This can be particularly important when patients receive urgent or emergency treatment outside their local area.
For example, if a person requires urgent treatment in hospital or an ambulance crew responds to a 999 call, clinicians may be able to access information about previously discussed treatments, care preferences, and whether a person wishes to remain at home whenever possible. Having this information available can support more informed clinical decisions and reduce the need for patients and families to repeat difficult conversations during stressful circumstances.
Matthew Hutton, Digital Lead, said:
“The National Record Locator helps us ensure that important care planning information can be accessed by the right professionals at the right time. By making ReSPECT and EPaCCS information more visible across the NHS, we can support better coordinated care and help ensure that people’s wishes are understood and respected, particularly in urgent and emergency situations.”
Integrated Care Northamptonshire emphasises that patients remain in control of their information. Individuals who do not wish their information to be shared through the National Record Locator can choose to opt out by discussing this with their GP practice and submitting a formal objection.
Anyone with questions about ReSPECT plans, EPaCCS records or information sharing arrangements is encouraged to speak with the healthcare team involved in their care.