Practices need to be ready for patients gaining new rights of access to their medical records, a leading primary care organisation has warned.

The rights are due to be introduced in April – although a deadline for complying with the rights may be extended to July, according to the Londonwide Local Medical Committees. The new rights were originally intended to be introduced in December. The new rights will enable patients to see letters, documents and notes written in free text through online accounts.

The advice says staff should consider the impact of each document as they add them to patient records. However, nothing will be added to online records without being checked and filed – and this should give GPs a chance to contact patients first if they have concerns. Practices should also consider setting up systems to ensure that sensitive information is redacted before being entered onto the system. These might also help determine when it was inappropriate to give a patient access to a record. Under the rules practices can customise or remove access for patients if having information is “inappropriate,” the organisation says. These will generally be because of safeguarding concerns.

The rules apply to new health records – but by the end of the year, patients will have the right to request historic records by using the NHS App.

“There is existing guidance and materials available to support clinicians with providing online services. In addition, NHS Digital have provided further guidance for GP practices on giving patients online access. We suggest practices read these in addition to the summary provided above.” The Londonwide LMCs say.