Half of English pharmacies now access a summary of patients’ GP record, according to NHS Digital.
It said this means nearly 6,000 pharmacies use summary care records (SCR) just one year after the nationwide rollout, with pharmacies incentivised by extra income worth £640.
First announced in 2013, SCR are being rolled out in a bid to reduce the need to take up GP consultations and better tailor patients’ care.
The rollout has been funded in part with money from the £1bn primary care infrastructure fund and health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s ‘new deal’ for general practice.
NHS Digital said that more than 20,000 pharmacy professionals have completed online SCR training, and 90% of community pharmacies have taken part in briefing sessions to help them implement the technology.
The top 10 pharmacies for SCR usage access it 50 times per week on average, it added.
Programme head for integrated pharmacy at NHS Digital Mohammed Hussain said: ‘It is really encouraging that half of community pharmacies now have access to SCR, allowing them to support patients with better informed and tailored care.’
