Dorset takes next step in joining up health and care records for residents

Health and care professionals across Dorset will have access to an even wider range of information to help them make informed decisions about people’s treatment, care and support, following a major development of the Dorset Care Record.

The Dorset Care Record (DCR) has joined the Interweave Partnership, an NHS-managed data-sharing network supporting shared care records across multiple integrated care systems to deliver DCRv2, the next version of the Dorset Care Record.

The move will give the DCR greater flexibility and, in time, new functionality, paving the way for more information to be made available through the shared record, including areas such as care planning, end-of-life care and mental health records.

Launched in 2017, the DCR provides health and care professionals with access to important information about the people they support. More than 10,000 professionals have been trained to use it, with up to 200,000 records accessed every month.

Councillor Steve Robinson, Dorset Council Cabinet portfolio lead for Adult Social Care, said the information available through the DCR had proved invaluable to health and care professionals. 

“Clinicians and care professionals have immediate access to important information, giving them a more rounded perspective on the health of residents.

“It is a great tool for health prevention, enabling informed decisions to be made at the right place and at the right time. I look forward to seeing the roll out of further records soon,” he added.

The partnership brings Dorset into a wider network focused on making health and care information more joined up. 

Ian Clucas, Deputy Chief Information Officer at Interweave, said:

“We’re thrilled to formally introduce Dorset to the Interweave Partnership.

“It has been a positive experience working with our colleagues in Dorset over the past months, who share our vision of providing digitally enhanced and inclusive care.”

Interweave describes the partnership as a significant milestone in its mission to improve joined-up care across the country.

For further information about the DCR, including partners - Dorset Care Record