NHS Reforms Could Affect Medical File Management

EndEx today warned that Health Secretary Andrew Lansley's plans will fundamentally alter the way the NHS manages records and document archives. Failure to carefully manage the transition could result in Chaos.

Under the Health and Social Care Bill, GPs will take control of 80% of the NHS budget - some £80 billion a year - and hospitals will be given more freedom from central Government.  Groups of GP's will form into groups to commission services from April 2013 and Primary Care Trusts (PCT’s) and Strategic Health Authorities (SHA’s) will be scrapped.

It is thought people currently working at primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) may be re-hired to do the work. “This is where the problems can occur”, Says John Cooper MD of EndEx Archives. “The responsibility for archiving and storing a wide range of public health records will pass to the new GP groups. Not only do the existing records need to be co-ordinated but the new GP groups need to plan how they will manage the process going forward”.

Returning responsibility for public health to councils is one of the few health reforms proposed by the government that has been widely welcomed. Local Government has a duty to look after the health and wellbeing of its population.

A survey of members of the Association of Directors of Public Health in May found 81% agreed in principle with the move to local authorities, but many had concerns about fragmentation of public health and workforce issues, such as the loss of NHS terms and conditions.

It is this fragmentation of management and an increase in the number of authorities which has prompted EndEx Archives to develop its new Document Storage and Retrieval service for GP practices well in advance of the 2013 deadline.

Tertius Terblanche who is the Business Development Director for EndEx commented,“EndEx Archives has many years experience working with PCT’s and we are keen to help the new GP commissioning practices with their records management. Medical Archives are vital especially when an organisation has been restructured and EndEx can help GP commissioning practices ensure a smooth transition from the SHA and PCT regime”.