HEALTH MATTERS

●● WITH Dr Paul Bowen, GP with McIlvride Medical Practice, Poynton, and executive chair of NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) I WAS recently lucky enough to be invited to experience the work being done to integrate care in Catalonia, Spain.

One of the things that struck me was that care professionals across primary care, secondary care, social care and mental health can see the records of patients deemed to be ‘high-risk’.

For me, the Catalonian model is the holy grail of care records and, while we’re making progress towards such initiatives in the NHS, we still have a way to go.

Be that as it may, things are improving here in Eastern Cheshire.

GPs, district nurses and other community care professionals can now access each other’s care records, which drastically speeds up the care process, as well as improving patient experience.

Moreover, the Cheshire Care Record, which is a project involving all GP, hospital, community, mental health and social care services provided in the county, is a huge step in the right direction.

The service is due to go live in 2016, and will streamline summary health and social care information into one digital record – so you don’t have to keep repeating your medical or social care history.

Your shared record will include information such as test results, medications, allergies and social or mental health information relevant to your care.

All information will be held securely and will not be shared with any other organisations, so patients