Perhaps this is something patients in England should raise to their Patient Paticipation Groups??
You only have to drop a note in to your practice addressed to the Chairperson and ask for it to be discussed with the Practice.
All practices are encouraged to have a PPG and this is something that the PPG's could and should get involved with.
I was trialled at my old GP Practice as the 1st patient to go live for online everything..
I could see hospital letters too.
Unfortunately, after my cancer diagnosis the consultant wrote my life expectency to the GP and he had not discussed that with me..... I took it ok but.... my Practice then decided to limit details to patients of the codes, blood tests, immunisations and allergies etc. That was on the EMIS system.
The Systemone has the same funtionality but not quite so good as the EMIS one.
Allergies are good to view, it makes you realise that the GPs do not record anything as intolerances... I put mine thru the MHRA now and that website says do you want your GP informed. I always type yes, then they have to put it on my notes properly.
Both systems can and should allow for patients to book appts online and meds.
Both systems could let you view letters from hospitals etc but be wary on this that you could find out stuff that might knock you for six etc and a consultant would not be aware if you could view your records or not....
The best GP's nowadays like mine use a telephone call back system first. You can phone up and ask to speak to GP or book up on line. They phone you back that morning or afternoon if you phone at 2pm. If you need to be seen you are guaranteed an appointment that morning or afternoon. If they can deal with over the phone, then they will do that.
Its the 1st GP Practice I've known to do this and honestly the GPs have been absolutely superb with me. I was so ill last year, almost died from poisoning and they were there for me everyday some weeks to get me through the hospital blunders...
Going back to booking online.. this week I had just literally finished typing a request for xrays to be arranged to my GP, (on the appt hotline) at 7.45pm. Hadnt even logged off and my GP rung to say Xray sorted to go in the next morning....
Now that is good!!!