Patients encouraged to sign up for My Care portal
Date published:
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is encouraging people to sign up for access to the My Care patient portal, which allows patients and service users to view information on their digital medical record.
The My Care portal gives patients instant access to information on their healthcare through their digital devices via an app or web browser.
The patient portal has been created to coincide with the move from paper patient records to electronic patient records through the roll out of encompass.
Patients and service users across the South Eastern and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust areas, where encompass is already live, can now access their information via the app or webpage by creating a My Care account.
Patients in the Northern, Southern and Western Health and Social Care Trusts will be able to access their personal health record via My Care once encompass goes live in their Trust area.
Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt said: “My Care provides patients with access to information on their care in the palm of their hands. Building on the transformation to electronic patient records facilitated by encompass, this patient portal provides personalised and secure online access to information including medical appointments, medication and some test results. This is truly revolutionary in empowering patients to take an active role in their healthcare and wellness.
“I would encourage patients to create a My Care account so they can access information as it becomes available in their Trust area.”
Dan West, Chief Digital Information Officer at the Department of Health and Head of Digital Health and Care Northern Ireland, said: “My Care is a further step forward in the delivery of our Digital Strategy, which aims to improve health and care outcomes by developing new ways for people to access health services through digital transformation. I am delighted to support raising awareness of the portal.”
The HSCNI Senior Responsible Owner for encompass, Dr Dermot Hughes, said: “My Care is an important component running alongside the introduction of encompass and has huge benefits for patients. We are continuing with work to roll out encompass across the remaining three Trust areas and have no doubt that My Care will play a significant part in its success.”
Patients can continue to receive traditional communication such as appointment letters alongside My Care. Patients may also permit proxy access to third parties such as a carer or family member to assist with managing their care should they wish.
Further information on My Care, including how to create a My Care account can be found at My Care – DHCNI (hscni.net)
FAQs on My Care can be found at My Care - FAQs
Notes to editors:
- Patient information on the My Care patient portal will become available as encompass is rolled out in HSC Trust areas. It is therefore currently available for service users in SEHSCT and BHSCT only. Expected Go-Live dates for other Trust areas are; NHSCT : 7 November 2024, WHSCT: 8 May 2025, SHSCT: 8 May 2025.
- Further information on encompass can be found at encompass
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