Your GP practice keeps a copy of your health record and in many practices this is now an electronic record (stored on a computer). There are also paper records where letters, test results and hospital reports are kept all together in a folder.
When you change from one GP practice to another, your health record has to be sent to your new GP practice. To get your records moved your new GP practice would ask your old GP practice to send your notes to them. Your old practice would then print out your electronic record and add it to your paper records before sending it all using a secure delivery service. This can take six weeks or more and there is a chance you would need to see your doctor before the notes arrived, especially if you needed a repeat prescription. Your new GP practice would then have to type all your details and your health record back into their computer system.
As most GPs have an electronic copy of your medial record it would be much easier, quicker and safer if they could transfer that information electronically to your new GP's computer and that's were GP2GP can help. GP2GP is the electronic transfer of your health records from one GP to another GP.
GP2GP improves your care as your new GP practice will have your health records available to them in time for your first consultation. As your doctor will have the details of your current treatment and medications, allergies and medical tests from the past you won't have to remember or explain everything on your first visit.
Your paper records are still important and these will be sent to your new doctor by your old GP practice but your treatment will not be delayed in the meantime.
