Shared Care Record (ShCR)
The Shared Care Record allows authorised health and care professionals involved in your care to securely view relevant information from different organisations. This helps provide safer, more joined-up care across Norfolk and Waveney.
What the Shared Care Record is
Health and care organisations across Norfolk and Waveney work together to provide joined-up care for patients.
The Shared Care Record allows authorised health and care professionals involved in your care to securely view important information about you from different organisations in one place.
This means professionals supporting you can access relevant information when they need it, helping them make informed decisions about your care.
The Shared Care Record supports safer, more coordinated care across health and social care services.
The Shared Care Record does not replace existing medical records. Each organisation involved in your care continues to keep its own record.
How the Shared Care Record helps your care
When professionals involved in your care can see important information about your health and care history, it can help them provide safer and more effective treatment.
This can help to:
- reduce the need for you to repeat your medical history
- support quicker and safer clinical decisions
- reduce duplicate tests or investigations
- improve communication between services involved in your care
- support more joined-up care across health and social care organisations
What information may be shared
The Shared Care Record brings together relevant information from organisations involved in your care.
This may include:
- your basic details such as name, address and NHS number
- information about medications and allergies
- test results and investigations
- information about hospital visits or appointments
- care or treatment plans
- information about services involved in your care
Only information that is relevant to your care will be available to authorised professionals.
Who can access the Shared Care Record
Only authorised health and care professionals who are directly involved in your care can access the Shared Care Record.
This may include professionals working in:
- GP practices
- hospitals
- community health services
- mental health services
- urgent care services such as NHS 111
- local authority social care services
Staff must have a legitimate reason to view your record and must follow strict confidentiality rules.
All access to records is monitored and audited.
Protecting your information
Your information is stored securely and accessed through approved NHS systems.
Health and care professionals must follow strict rules about how patient information is used.
They must:
- only access records when they are involved in your care
- follow NHS confidentiality and data protection policies
- complete appropriate training before they can use the system
Access to the Shared Care Record is logged and can be checked if needed.
Your choices
Information in the Shared Care Record is used to support your direct care.
If you have questions about how your information is used, you can speak to your GP practice or the organisation providing your care.
You can also find further information about how the Shared Care Record works, including frequently asked questions, on the My Care Record website.
Current status
The Shared Care Record is now in use across health and care organisations in Norfolk and Waveney.
The system will continue to develop over time, with additional organisations and information being added to support more joined-up care for patients.
Further information
Shared Care Record – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Shared Care Record – Public and Stakeholder Briefing Document