Should I send consultation notes back to my patients NHS GP?

Why share private GP consultation notes back with an NHS GP?

When you're a private GP in the UK, deciding whether to send consultation notes back to a patient's NHS GP can seem a bit of a conundrum at first. But sharing this information can be beneficial for a few key reasons.

Continuity of Care

Sharing your consultation notes ensures that there is a comprehensive and up-to-date patient record, which is incredibly valuable. You see, if a patient requires care from an NHS service at some point, having access to all previous treatments can help inform better healthcare decisions and continuity of care.

Safety First

The more clinicians know about a patient’s medical history, the more effectively they can care for the patient. Emergency situations, such as those seen in A&E departments, may arise where having access to a patient’s full medical history, including notes from private consultations, could be crucial in delivering safe and effective treatment.

On Obtaining Consent

Any exchange of information should consider patient consent. With that in mind, if a patient agrees, sharing their private GP consultation notes keeps their NHS records up-to-date. This can only enhance the holistic picture of their health journey.

"Access to complete healthcare records makes a significant difference in patient care quality," a colleague once said during a discussion on best practices in healthcare management.

When sharing these notes, using a robust electronic system like EMIS Web can streamline the process. It’s widely used across NHS practices, providing consistent and secure access to records. Additionally, innovative platforms like Hero Health can integrate with such systems, offering seamless communication, online booking, and payment management features for private practices.

Resources to Consider

For GPs looking to maintain efficient practice management and improve patient interaction, utilising tools that integrate with existing NHS systems like Hero Health can offer both organisational benefits and a smoother experience for patients making the transition between private and NHS care.