Risk alert: Electronic discharge summaries
Post date: 11/09/2015The information within this article was correct at the time of publishing. Last updated 15/03/2019
NHS England has mandated that from 1 October 2015 secure fax will no longer be permitted for sending discharge summaries to GPs from NHS hospitals or independent sector providers of acute services.
From this date, organisations need to be using either secure email or direct electronic transmission to send and receive discharge summaries.
Action points for GP practices:
- Make all staff aware that there will be a change in receiving discharge summaries from hospitals and other acute providers.
- Ensure there is an appropriate secure email system or method for direct electronic transmission in place by 1 October 2015.
- Ensure practice staff are trained and comfortable using these new systems.
- Ensure there are protocols in place to process discharge summaries and workflow them to the relevant doctor.
Further information regarding the change is available on the NHS England website
