Jersey has launched its Connected Pharmacies Programme, allowing selected pharmacies to access patient healthcare records when necessary to “support” their care.

Launched on September 21, Reid’s Pharmacy in Longville, Co-op Pharmacy in New Era and LV Pharmacy in St Helier are the first to participate in the programme.

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The Government of Jersey said that “authorised pharmacists and pharmacy technicians” can only access information that is “relevant” to a patient’s care, such as current or previous medication information, recorded allergies, relevant medical conditions and vaccination history.

They stressed that authorised staff “cannot access” a patient’s consultation notes, letters, test results, hospital reports or other information deemed unnecessary for pharmacy services.

“Personalised and informed care”

It is hoped that the programme will help community pharmacies to provide “better, faster and more convenient care” by reducing delays and repeated pharmacy visits.

The programme also aims to “improve” vaccination uptake and “communication between healthcare professionals”, while providing more “personalised and informed care” to patients.

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According to the Government of Jersey, other services on the island such as Family Nursing and Home Care, Jersey Hospice Care, the ambulance service and the Jersey Diabetes Service already have access to relevant information from patient healthcare records.

It comes after the Health Services Safety Investigations Body recommended that independent prescribing organisations should have write access to patients’ health records to improve the safety of online prescribing.

And it follows the UK government formally introducing the Single Patient Record in May, allowing all NHS providers to share a patient’s full medical history so they “won’t have to repeat their story unnecessarily”.