IT glitch fixed
An IT glitch - which meant some letters sent electronically to GPs from local hospitals were never received – has been fixed.
A problem with IT systems at Mid and South Essex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust meant that some patient discharge summaries and clinic letters - updating GPs on the care and treatment their patients had received - were not sent electronically.
The problem with the IT systems dates back several years, and came to light when a GP surgery realised it was missing some information.
The Trust covers a population of 1.2million, and around 53,000 patients’ electronic letters were not received by GPs. However, this only affected some electronic transfers – many of the letters were also sent in paper form, and the patients themselves received their copies through the post.
The IT issue has been resolved, and now Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust and the local Integrated Care System are working together to review all of the letters and to make sure that GP patient records are up to date.
Dr Ronan Fenton, System Medical Director, added: “We will be giving our GP practices all of the support they need to process the backlog of discharge summaries and clinic letters.”
Patients with a query about this issue can call 01245 515124.