When you visit an NHS or social care service, information about you and the care you receive is recorded and stored in a health and care record.

This is so people caring for you can make the best decisions about your care.

The information in your records can include your:

• name, age and address
• health conditions
• treatments and medicines
• allergies and past reactions to medicines
• tests, scans and X-ray results
• specialist care, such as maternity or mental health
• lifestyle information, such as whether you smoke or drink
• hospital admission and discharge information

You can sign up for online services at home if you have photo ID and a smartphone. The first step is creating an NHS Login. This YouTube video shows you how to create an NHS Login using photo ID.

If you don't have a smartphone, or you have difficulty creating an NHS Login at home, we can set you up with an online services login at the surgery. Please visit our reception desk and bring with you:

• photo ID
• our online services sign-up form

Once you have an NHS Login, you can use it to sign into many other NHS online services, such as Patient Access.

If you wish to access someone else's online record, for example someone you care for, both of you will need to come to the surgery. Please bring with you:

• photo ID for both of you
• our proxy access consent form

If you do not have a printer at home, we can print copies of these forms for you in reception.

If you are receiving care from other healthcare professionals, such as the district nurses, your GP practice can now share access to parts of your medical record. This helps the healthcare professionals treating you, by making sure they have up-to-date information about you. One way that your record can be shared is with your Summary Care Record.

You will always be asked for your consent before a healthcare professional accesses your record. You can choose not to allow access. If you choose to allow access, the information is only ever shared on a need-to-know basis. Only healthcare professionals who are treating you will be able to see your record.

You may wish to allow a specific friend or family member to see or discuss your medical records. This can be useful, for example, if you have dementia or a learning disability, and want a carer to be able to help you.

We will not share your medical records with any friend or family member unless you have already given us permission.

Even if you are under 16, nothing will be said to anyone, including parents, other family members, care workers or teachers, without your permission. The only reason why we might want to consider passing on confidential information without your permission would be to protect either you or someone else from serious harm. In this situation, we would always try to discuss this with you first.

If you want to give permission for a specific friend or family member to discuss your medical records, please contact reception.