Mrs Smith (not her real name) was recently admitted to Petersfield Community Hospital in Hampshire. She said:

“Most of us assume when we go into hospital, our health care records are available to share between the professionals involved. I was therefore surprised when so many people asked me for information and didn’t share this between themselves.

“My GP has my electronic record but only the practice can see it.  The hospital started another paper record – kept by the nurses on the ward and not shared. The physiotherapist and OT started their own, separate records even though they work in the same building.

“Before I left, the social worker also started a new record. And instead of sending for my previous hospital records, the district nurse started another one when she visited.

“This means there are now seven sets of local records for me, none of which are routinely shared. Apart from the huge cost to the environment in terms of paper, it wastes staff time and is very frustrating for the patient.”