NHS Camden will be writing to every Camden resident who is registered with a Camden GP from 10 March to inform them of the summary care record.

The summary care record is an electronic record of important health information about each individual patient. At first, it will contain information about allergies, bad reactions to medicines and medicines being taken. This will be in addition to the existing health records which will continue to be used as they are now.

The summary care record will be available only to authorised healthcare staff providing NHS care, which means if someone has an accident or becomes ill, the clinicians treating them will have immediate access to important information, with the patient's permission.

Patients can view their summary care record online when it has been created using a secure website called HealthSpace (http://www.healthspace.nhs.uk/). This service is free of charge.

People may choose not to have a summary care record. There is a leaflet ('Changes to your health recors') with more information about what people need to do if they do not want a record created for them. This leaflet is also available in a range of languages, large print, easy read, audio CD and Braille and can be ordered from the NHS Care Records Service information line by telephoning 0845 603 8510 or by visiting the website at http://www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk/summary