Minimising harm from valproate in North Central London
North Central London Integrated Care System (NCL ICS) has adopted a proactive, data-driven approach to improving the safety of sodium valproate prescribing for females of childbearing age. Sodium valproate, a medication commonly used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, carries significant risks during pregnancy, including physical and neurodevelopmental harm to unborn children (13 November 2025). […]
Making a difference in South East London
In 2020 the London Care Record was launched. This is a single and secure view of a person’s health and care information which helps ensure frontline staff have the information they need about a person when they need it, wherever they are in London. In South East London alone it is currently used by around […]
Supporting our frontline staff provide effective care
In 2020 we introduced the London Care Record. This is a single and secure view of a person’s health and care information which helps ensure frontline staff have the information they need about a person when they need it, wherever they are in London. It is currently used by around 55,000 frontline staff each month […]
Saving time for hospital pharmacists
Hospital Pharmacists are using the shared care record to check what medication a patient is currently taking.
Reducing non-elective admissions
“I assessed a breathless patient over the phone who had significant palpitations and presyncope. I was almost certainly going to arrange an ambulance but then on accessing the shared care record it came to light he had a background of anxiety and was on propranolol. He hadn’t taken his medication that morning. I advised him to take it. I eventually called the patient back to reassess and he was symptom free. I was able to give him the best support and treatment and freed up an ambulance to treat patients elsewhere.”
Avoiding repeat investigations for stroke patients
“When patients are transferred to our stroke unit from other hospitals, our stroke team can immediately see what investigations have already been carried out and can access the results.
Supporting transfer of care from ICU to Paediatrics
“Whilst working during a weekend, I received a call that a child with kidney failure and complications was going to be transferred from King’s College Hospital to Guy’s Hospital. When I didn’t receive a further call, I looked up the patient on the shared care record. This confirmed that the boy was currently in intensive care at King’s under general anaesthetic.
Supporting patient assessments by urgent and emergency care clinicians
“While assessing an elderly lady who had fallen, the patient was complaining of back pain, but had become worse post-falling. The patient had had a recent MRI but was still awaiting results. By accessing the shared care record I could see patient’s full MRI results. The MRI showed extensive spine osteoporosis with prolapsed lumbar discs. This information changed my management plan of the patient who needed urgent assistance due to the severe pain. The daughter was amazed that we had access to this information which would greatly help her mother, she would also speak to the GP regarding a long-term plan.”
Reassuring patient concerned they may have cancer
“I had one patient who’d had an ultrasound on his liver. He was concerned he had cancer, but it turned out this wasn’t the case at all. He was worried as his next appointment with the consultant was three months away. He was really relieved when I could look at the shared care record and give him reassurance then and there.
Safeguarding vulnerable children
“Child safeguarding issues do not tend to be picked-up by GPs – more often it’s teachers. But there are occasions when alarm bells start to ring. In this case, it was when two young brothers failed to show up for their immunisations. When I checked their notes, I could see that they had come in several times over the last year with various smaller injuries.