What is a Summary Care Record? | Mencap | Easy Read

What is a Summary Care Record?

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A Summary Care Record is important information about your health.

A doctor sitting at a desk holding a book and writing on an prescription pad.

The information in your Summary Care Record comes from your doctor.

A doctor with a green tick beside her, then an equals sign and a computer screen with summary care record on it and a green tick beside it.

Everyone registered with a doctor has a Summary Care Record.

A man with his hand up in a stop position and an equals sign and a computer with summary care record on the screen and a cross beside it.

If you have said you do not want a Summary Care Record, you will not have one.

A nurse is filling out a questionnaire for a man next to her who is sat up on a bed

Medical staff can look at the information in your Summary Care Record.

A computer with the words NHS Summary Care Record on it. Around the computer are pictures of medicines, food, files, a booklet, someone using a communication aid, and someone helping someone who has collapsed

What information is in my Summary Care Record?

Your Summary Care Record will have information about:

A doctor sitting at a desk writing on a pad. There is a computer and stethoscope in front of her.

your doctor

A woman in a wheelchair with her hand up and pointing to herself. Beside her is a card which says NHS number and has some numbers written on it.

your NHS number

an asthma inhaler

any health conditions you have

medication boxes and bottles

the medication you take

A woman with a red face clutching her throat. Around her are pictures of tablets, a bee, nuts and pollen spores. Underneath the image is the word Emergency and a mobile telephone

any allergies you have.

A man and a woman shaking hands and smiling.

Why is a Summary Care Record important?

A Summary Care Record is important because it can give important information about you and your health to doctors and nurses who do not know you.

A nurse looking at a computer screen which has an image of a lady in a wheelchair on it and a red flag.

For example, if you go to hospital and are too poorly to talk and do not have anyone with you who knows you, the staff can look at your Summary Care Record on a computer.

A man lying in a hospital bed. Beside him is a nurse talking to him.

The information in the Summary Care Record can help them to decide what help you need.

An information sign with an arrow pointing to a computer screen which say Summary Care Record on it.

Extra information in your Summary Care Record

You can choose to have extra information in your Summary Care Record.

A man in a wheelchair holding a card with a green tick and with his thumb up. Beside him is an information sign with an arrow pointing to a computer screen which says Summary Care Record.

If you have a learning disability , it can be a good idea to have extra information in your Summary Care Record.

A blue letter i in a blue circle.

The extra information might be information about:

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any illnesses you have

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operations you have had

A woman gets a vaccine injection into her arm from a nurse

vaccinations you have had

Three people sitting with someone in a hospital bed

what medical help you would like.
For example, you can say what you do or do not want staff to do to help you if you are very poorly.

A woman explaining something to a man. Beside them is a nurse.

what support you might need

A man using a phone.

who staff can contact to find out more information about you.

A nurse talking and showing a piece of paper to a woman.

The extra information will help medical people who do not know you to support you.

A woman in a wheelchair. An easy read report. A stop watch indicating shorter work hours. A ramp.

They should be able to give you the same help and make the same reasonable adjustments you have when you go to your doctor's surgery.

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How do I add extra information to my Summary Care Record?

Go to our page about how to add extra information to your Summary Care Record.