How can I send consultation notes back to a patients NHS GP?

Sharing Notes with NHS GPs: A Guide for Private GPs

One of the key aspects of running a successful private GP practice is ensuring excellent communication with a patient's NHS GP. Sharing consultation notes is pivotal for ensuring continuity of care. Here's a simple guide to doing this efficiently.

What is the best way to send notes to a patient’s NHS GP?

The most efficient way to ensure that your consultation notes reach the patient's NHS file is through EMIS Consultation Write Back. This feature enables GPs to directly update a patient's NHS clinical record. However, it does require a prior sharing agreement between the private and NHS practices.

A widely used alternative is Docman Connect, which facilitates the electronic transfer of documents directly into the NHS GP's workflow using MESH—this is a proven method universally adopted for sending lab results.

Other Options for Sharing Notes

You can also use NHS Mail for sending secure emails directly to the practice or the patient’s registered NHS GP. Alternatively, Egress Email offers a paid encryption service for securely sending emails. If the recipient's email is within the NHS network, it unencrypts automatically, maintaining data security.

What to Include in Your Notes?

When sending consultation notes, ensure you include all the necessary information crucial for the patient's ongoing care, such as consultation summaries, prescribed medications, and test results. It’s also essential to have the patient’s consent to share this information.

"Continuity of care is paramount, and sharing information keeps all parties informed."

Why Share Private GP Consultation Notes?

Keeping the patient's NHS record up-to-date allows for seamless and integrated care across services they might access in the future. It also ensures that NHS services have access to information during emergencies, enhancing patient safety.

Importantly, using tools like Hero Health, which integrates seamlessly with EMIS, can enhance the patient experience by streamlining communications, bookings, and payment processes.

Getting Started

Setting up systems like EMIS or Docman Connect can initially seem daunting, but they are well worth the effort. They not only improve your practice's efficiency but also elevate the level of coordinated care you can provide for your patients.