Reasons for online access to medical records:

• All patients should be able to access their medical records with ease, including doctors notes, letters of referral and test results.

• Integrated care - the healthcare system have to duty of care to ensure people are fully INFORMED and INVOLVED in their own care.

• My personal experience is that I have had various conditions I was not notified of until months, sometimes years later, some after the issue had resolved but reoccurred. Had I had ease of access to my GP health record this may have been prevented and I would have been aware of the symptoms that present with that and sought advice.

• My medication and health records have stated that I am being treated for a condition when it is in-fact another condition of a similar nature. I did ask for this to be altered several times but it seems to still occur.

• It also means if you forget information or become overwhelmed with medical terminology, you can login to view the information at any point.

• It prevents unecessary time being taken up by GP surgery staff in having to give access to medical records.

• It is currently practiced in England via the NHS app.

• People in poverty, who do not have the funds to pay the fee to access their records can do so free of charge online.

• Instant access can be given rather than the 30 day potential wait.

• Test Results - the GP only calls if your results are abnormal. If you call in, as advised by the nurse or phlebotomist, you dont get the reassurance that all is well unless you make a GP appointment which could be unecessary if the results are normal.

• You are given a ten minute appointment, which is very slight for some if you have complex mental or physical health issues, therefore you can have access to information to ensure you are fully informed and things are not missed e.g referrals, specific tests.

• The NHS is under significant strain and with patients having access to their GP health records, they can take more responsibility with their health and care.