Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when patient records will be made available to commercial pharmacies.

Early adopters can access the Summary Care Record (SCR) now, subject to completing mandatory preparation requirements and to meeting all necessary Information Governance rules. The SCR currently limited to important information about any medicines individuals are taking, any allergies they suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines they have previously experienced. It allows authorised healthcare staff to have access to this information which will improve decision making by doctors and other healthcare professionals and prevents mistakes being made when patients are being cared for.

Wider rollout will commence in autumn 2015 and the majority of pharmacies will have access by April 2017. NHS England is currently working with professional and representative bodies to agree details of the wider rollout. All pharmacies will be required to meet strict rules on access, with only regulated pharmacy professionals able to access for the purpose solely of direct clinical care, and only then with the explicit consent of the patient.