Concern over NHS computer project

The electronic patient records system - which aims to put patient records online into a mass database - is being hampered by a lack of communication, they said.

The influential Health Select Committee praised the future benefits for patients in England, who are expected to get more control over their care. But it raised fears over delays to introducing the system and the evaluation of security measures aimed at protecting patient confidentiality.

Last month a senior doctor told the British Medical Journal there were still big challenges to be overcome, including on privacy. But Connecting for Health, which is overseeing the £12.4 billion National Programme for IT (NPfIT), insists the system is secure.

In April, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said NPfIT, which is the biggest civilian computer project in history, was "not looking good" and required urgent remedial action. It said doubts were rife among staff and its benefits were not yet clear.

The electronic patient records system consists of two parts - the Summary Care Record (SCR) and the local Detailed Care Record (DCR).

The SCR will contain basic information - such as current medication, allergies and long-term conditions - and will be shared by health professionals across England.

Any details they want held back will remain on their full patient record - the DCR - in their local area.

The report from MPs said they found "it difficult to clarify exactly what information will be contained in the SCR and what the primary uses of the record will be".

It said the explanations eventually provided by the Department of Health showed that the SCR could have great clinical value in some situations. This led it to support the implementation of the SCR as soon as possible but said issues over "consent" had not been well communicated to patients.