Posted: Mon, January 4, 2010
Patients in Wales to access health services online
All patients in Wales will have access to their health records online and be able to book GP appointments via the internet, WalesOnline.co.uk has reported.
New technology being developed in Wales will also allow patients to order repeat prescriptions from their home or work without having to visit or telephone their GP surgery.
A new bilingual website – My Health Online, which will give patients greater autonomy over their healthcare – is now being created by Informing Healthcare.
Health Minister Edwina Hart today said she would invest a further £1.7m into the site, which has already been tested by four GP surgeries across Wales.
“The demand for online GP services is increasing and we recognise that providing accessible information is critical if we want to enable people to change their lifestyles and improve their health,” she said.
“The Welsh Assembly Government is also committed to improving access to health services for people living in rural communities. My Health Online will particularly save lengthy journeys to GP practices. The website will also help empower people to take responsibility for their own health through the completion of a health diary which can be shared with their GP.”
All patients will have to register via their GP surgery to be able to use the My Health Online website. They will also be given an individual PIN number to use. The website will allow patients to view and update their details, such as changing an address. It will also allow patients with a long-term health problem to create and keep a health diary, which will ensure that healthcare professionals have the most up-to-date information about their conditions.
Informing Healthcare, the organisation which is overseeing the development of new IT services in the NHS, said: “Advantages of online services include no hanging on the phone, waiting to get through to the GP surgery; convenient access to GP services from home or work – or anywhere with internet access and being able to prepare for consultations.”
For more information and to read the full article, visit Walesonline.co.uk.
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Cymraeg
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