DCCR October briefing update 2022

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A new system that aims to transform the way information is shared among health and care organisations has been launched in Devon and Cornwall.

The Devon and Cornwall Care Record (DCCR) enables authorised health and care staff to see details held by a wide range of providers across Devon, Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly in a single record. It gives professionals a more complete view of a patient’s history and is part of a national programme.

In this month’s update we will bring you some information about the second phase of the programme.

Phase two

The DCCR went live in August 2022, and we are now embarking on the next phase of development. This includes:

• Organisations already involved in the programme sharing more data
• Organisation who currently only view records, sharing their data
• Increasing the overall number of organisations who participate

Below is more information about the team’s plans for phase two, including detail about our forthcoming webinars that help organisations find out more about the programme.

Acute trusts

At present, care records include admissions discharges and transfers from University Hospitals Plymouth and Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust. However, we aim to enhance the data by including alerts from both and, from UHP, add admissions, transfers and discharges from the emergency department.

We also hope to make various documents (such as discharge summaries and echocardiogram results) available and include information from Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust and Royal Devon University Healthcare Foundation Trust.

Funding permitting, we will be bringing radiology results into the system for all acute services across both counties.

Mental health

Data from Cornwall Foundation Trust, Livewell and DPT is already included, but we are looking to add the IAPTUS information for Livewell and, possibly, CFT in the near future.

Hospices

We plan to bring hospice information into the programme in phase two. Initially, this will only include Devon hospices, which all use the TPP SystmOne heath record system. However, we aim to add those in Cornwall when their electronic systems can be harmonised with the care record.

Social Care

There are plans to engage with social care organisations in phase two. Initially, the information displayed in the care record will be limited, but this will be extended over time.

GP practices

The involvement of GP practices is crucial to the success of the DCCR, as they provide the most comprehensive patient data of any heath and care organisation.

At present, 111 GP practices across Devon and Cornwall have ‘signed up’ to the programme, with 60 remaining. This represents 66% of Devon and 67% of Cornwall in terms of patient coverage.

While this a satisfactory start, we want to increase GP practice involvement phase two.

We continue to hold regular webinars to provide practices with more information about the DCCR – including the easy sign-up process – and to answer any queries.

The next webinar takes place on 15 November, from 1pm until 2pm. To book your place, email d-icb.devonandcornwallcarerecord@nhs.net

Consumer organisations

News of the DCCR is spreading and we have received a request from the Devon Air Ambulance service to sign up to the programme. Being able to view data will assist Devon Air Ambulance in their rapid response activity and more general work they do in the community.

Phase two will also include a drive to include care homes in the programme – in line with NHS England and government priorities. As part of the engagement process, we have organised two webinars to explain what the DCCR is about and how care homes can benefit.

The next webinar takes place on 3 November (11am to 12pm). To attend, email d-icb.devonandcornwallcarerecord@nhs.net

The national programme to provide information to ambulance staff at the point of care is also gathering pace and we are engaging with this agenda. The overall aim is to minimise incidences of unwarranted and, in some cases, harmful transfers to hospital.

Find out more about the DCCR

The programme team has also produced a range of resources to help staff and patients find out more about the DCCR. These include a:

• Quick guide to the DCCR and patient communication toolkit – basic details about the programme and a suite of marketing materials to help organisations inform their patients and service users about the DCCR and its benefits.
• Website – information about the DCCR for patients and health and care staff.
• Training website – supports staff of participating organisations in the use of the DCCR platform. The site includes user guides and short videos.

Spread the word and get in touch

Share this with colleagues who might be interested in knowing more about the Devon and Cornwall Care Record. For any questions about the programme, email the team on d-icb.devonandcornwallcarerecord@nhs.net