Getting your medication should feel easy and that includes understanding what we ask for (and why) to help you feel confident in your journey with us.
That’s why we’re here to explain exactly what a Summary Care Record (SCR) or equivalent is and why we need access during your treatment journey with Phlo Clinic.
If you ever have questions, our Patient Care Team are always on hand to help.
What is my Summary Care Record (SCR)?
The Summary Care Record (SCR) is an electronic summary of your up-to-date GP medical record, containing a summary of important patient information unique to you.
Your SCR can only be accessed by authorised healthcare professionals that are directly involved in your care - to give a clear overview of key details needed to support safe treatment decisions. Think of it as a snapshot of your medical history.
Some of the information contained in the SCR includes:
- Your personal details, including name, address, date of birth and NHS number
- Medication history (current and past)
- Any known allergies or previous adverse reactions to medication
- Important medical notes recorded by your GP
If you’re registered with a GP in England, you will have an SCR which was automatically created by your GP surgery unless you have opted out and not consented for it to be visible to 3rd party healthcare providers like Phlo Clinic.
Why do you need to access my SCR? And how do we use it?
Accessing your SCR is a standard procedure for all online pharmacies, allowing the clinical team to obtain up-to-date medical records to make informed prescribing and dispensing decisions. As a digital pharmacy, Phlo Clinic accesses your SCR to not only verify your identity, but to also ensure that our clinicians have access to relevant health care information that enables them to provide you with a safe and effective pharmacy service.
At Phlo Clinic, we request access to your SCR for the following reasons:
- To verify you as a patient and ensure that we have the correct patient information
- Check appropriateness of any new treatment given
- Reduce the risk of drug interactions and check for allergies or sensitivities
- For your GP surgery to safely add any prescribed medication treatment from us to your medical record for future reference
This ensures we prescribe in line with the UK independent prescribing regulations and provide you with a safe and appropriate treatment.
At Phlo Clinic, we only access your SCR whilst you are a Phlo Clinic patient and always with your consent.
Please be assured, your SCR is treated with the same level of confidentiality as all other medical records.
You can learn more about SCRs via the NHS here.
When do I need my Summary Care Record (SCR)?
As part of our clinical safety checks and procedures, we will require access to your SCR to review before we can safely prescribe your medication.
When you complete your treatment request, we will ask you to agree to our Terms and Conditions. As part of agreeing to the Terms and Conditions, you'll also be giving consent for Phlo Clinic pharmacists to access your Summary Care Record (SCR).
Some patients may not have consented to their Summary Care Record being shared. In these instances, we will request medical records from your GP before assessing suitability for treatment. Your order will be on hold until we receive this so we can verify your details and ensure the treatment is suitable for you.
How do I get my SCR?
You’re legally entitled to access your own medical records at any time, and you can request your SCR directly from your GP. This may take up to 30 days, subject to surgery internal procedures.
At Phlo Clinic, we ask you to contact your GP and request that your medical records (SCR) are securely sent to us. This is your responsibility. Alternatively, your GP can send the SCR to you, and you can forward it on to us.
Once our clinical team can confirm your details and are satisfied that the treatment is suitable for you, your order will be approved and progressed for dispatch.
Who can access my SCR data and how is it protected?
Only registered members of the clinical team can access your SCR, and you can withdraw consent at any time by contacting our Patient Care Team.
At Phlo Clinic, we take data protection extremely seriously. As a digital pharmacy, we have implemented the most stringent of data protection and security protocols across our organisation. We do not store or copy any of the information contained within your SCR. Our pharmacists access this data securely via an NHS-approved patient management system and we cannot download or retain this information in our own database.
Additionally, all data within the SCR is protected by NHS-level security, strict information governance rules and procedures, and encrypted technology.
“We store data in encrypted form using the same algorithms your bank uses.”
-James MacIver, Chief Technology Officer at Phlo Clinic
For more detailed NHS guidance, you can access official resources here.
