Medical Record supplier

[Andydragon]

All,

Following a recent topic, mine is similar but not related to that post so rather than going off topic thought I would ask.

My new doctor sent me a list of about 30 different companies I can use to access my medical records, and I can see them via the NHS app too. Again, not top level letters but all of the test results and repeat prescriptions etc:

• Conditions
• Allergies
• Medication
• Consultations [Locked]
  
• Test Results
  
• Documents [Locked]
  
• Immunisations

I was a bit surprised how many companies to be honest, I suspect they use an API and then which I don’t like they try and sell value added extras like dna tests… I may actually post to ask people's experiences as I don't want to sign up to all of them, and that's off topic here

previous surgery used Airmid which I liked as I had graphs. None of the apps I have found so far do this
Does anyone have any experience of the below?

• Patient Access
• Evergreen Life
• Co-op Health
• myGP
• digi.me
• Echo Pharmacy
• AT Tech
• Pharmacy2U LtdMedloop
• Boots UK
• My Way Digital Health
• C Sharp Solutions
• Patients Know Best
• Redwood Technologies
• Doctorlink
• Digital Medical Supply UK LTD
• Nurturey - the digital PinkBook
• Nye HealthMy Cohens
• Avicenna
• Medicalchain.com Ltd
• Medicinechest Limited
• MedAdvisor App
• MedAdvisor Day Lewis
• Chemist 4U
• Charac Limited
• Barkerhouse Pharmacy (Appconnect Ltd)
• PATCHS
• Substrakt Health Limited
• Voice Connect Limited

 

[Goonergal]

Do all of those companies really have access to your medical records? I wouldn’t be happy with that. How does the process work?

My surgery uses Patient Access and the NHS app, neither of which is very satisfactory in my experience. Limited, basic information, but I assume that at least part of the reason is that the surgery itself doesn’t release a lot of the information into the apps.

 

[Andydragon]

Do all of those companies really have access to your medical records? I wouldn’t be happy with that. How does the process work?

My surgery uses Patient Access and the NHS app, neither of which is very satisfactory in my experience. Limited, basic information, but I assume that at least part of the reason is that the surgery itself doesn’t release a lot of the information into the apps.

The NHS app works for me too, I meant to say that’s another way

so, I received an account number and linkage key and can connect any of the above to the medical records. I do wonder how much access the companies have, they may talk about being safe with data and being able to unlink the records but it’s all a bit worrying, hence asking on here

I probably should take my usual advice kind you and ask the doctors themselves! I’m just used to surgeries having a single supplier they work with

The details I have in all apps seems standard, hence thinking it’s an API call to a central set of data. Also, is reasonably detailed for test results, and diagnosis going back a good 10 years it looks like I can see all test results. But it’s all down, I think, as to whether the doctors enable the access. Does it get revoked when surgeries change I don’t know

 

[HSSS]

My surgery used to use patient access. They had graphs on the tests section showing all the historic results for the same test in a graph (once you clicked the name of the test in results rather than just look at the chronologically list). I preferred this system to the nhs app as they surgery also gave better access levels on this. You’ve now got me wondering about what happened to access when they stopped using it…..

 

[AndBreathe]

Do all of those companies really have access to your medical records? I wouldn’t be happy with that. How does the process work?

My surgery uses Patient Access and the NHS app, neither of which is very satisfactory in my experience. Limited, basic information, but I assume that at least part of the reason is that the surgery itself doesn’t release a lot of the information into the apps.

My surgery uses SystmOnline, plus of course the general NHS option. When I looked at an alternative (SystmOnline has definite shortcomings) it became clear each surgery has to sign up with each of these companies. It seems my surgery has only signed up for SystmOnline and the NHS.

I have not spoken to anyone at the surgery about this, but the the more permissions given (in terms of multiple providers), the more chances there are of things going wrong, or system conflicts. If they were all the same, these alternatives wouldn't be required.

On a complete aside, on SystmOnline, I can manage my consents to other potential enquiries. I have that pretty much bolted down.

 

[Rachox]

I have access via the NHS app and Patient Access, both show the same info., however Patient Access has graphs too, got to love a graph!

 

[bulkbiker]

My surgery uses System Online.
I have no intention of ever using the "Covid Passport" NHS app.

@Andydragon I wonder if all these companies actually have your records but can only access them if you sign up to use their services? It might be worth reading the small print before allowing them such access especially in light of the planned sale of our data

https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/nhs-patient-data/113563/

 

[Jo_the_boat]

Echo used to service my prescriptions (They are now called Lloyds).
But medical records??
If these companies can access medical records, surely it's an 'opt in' situation?

 

[Bluetit1802]

My surgery uses Patient Access and the NHS app. I can see all my test results back for years, with graphs, also my diagnoses and vaccinations - including a few from when I was a baby (my baby injections in 1948 and a broken leg in 1952. Originally I couldn't see the documents but a couple of years ago that option was unblocked and I can now see reports sent to the surgery from other places such as retinal screening, mammograms, and letters from hospital consultants. I can also see consultations. It all depends on what the surgery will allow. My surgery seems to allow it all.

 

[pumas]

My surgery has Patient Access, can also use the NHS app(don't have to use the Covid passport) and MyGP app, doesn't have graphs, but does group results together if you click on one of the group.

 

[Oldvatr]

My phone is not smart/ It is as thick as pig,,,,,,,, It cannot get web access, it does not run Android, and will not give me access to anything except phone calls and textx.

My PC runs Windows, and does not run Android Apps. I cannot access my records, but my medical records were uploaded to the central repository that is being sold on to many companies for research and marketing, Thank you Boris.

 

[bulkbiker]

My phone is not smart/ It is as thick as pig,,,,,,,, It cannot get web access, it does not run Android, and will not give me access to anything except phone calls and textx.

My PC runs Windows, and does not run Android Apps. I cannot access my records, but my medical records were uploaded to the central repository that is being sold on to many companies for research and marketing, Thank you Boris.

You can opt out if you want. I heartily suggest informing your surgery you want to... forcefully.

 

[Oldvatr]

The first tranche of UK records went out before the opt outs went into effect. I believe my records were submitted but later marked as opting out to prevent access (locked) But there has been evidence that the encryption key has been published, and that hackers can gain access to that data. So if there is subsequent opt in either by choice or legal decision, then only that flag needs to change, and the data does not need to be uploaded again. It may be in futuure that responsible bodies such as the police or Home Office or DVLA or Border Force could be given permission to override

Also, insurance companies might be given judicial override to present evidence in some cases. I am suspicious that when we sign an agreement for say DVLA to have access to our medical data, then this is the mechanism that they will be able to use, rather than writing to your HCP.