Reconnecting a vulnerable patient with mental health support using the Shared Care Record

A vulnerable individual arrived at their former GP practice after several years without contact. They were no longer registered with the practice, meaning the practice team had no access to patient’s recent medical history, emergency contact details, or even a current address to arrange a welfare check.

The patient dropped off a letter addressed to the lead GP. From its contents, the team could tell they were distressed, troubled, and angry. However, the patient left before they could speak with them, and with no recent records, they had no way to assess risk or determine how best to support the patient.

Using the Shared Care Record

The practice manager first accessed the patient’s old record in SystmOne, but because the patient had been deducted from the practice, the information available stopped at the point they left the list. However, through the Shared Care Record, the team could view more recent medical history.

By accessing the Shared Care Record, the practice team discovered that the patient had recently been a psychiatric inpatient and identified their consultant. They also confirmed that the patient was not currently registered with any other GP practice, meaning they had no primary care oversight. With a clear audit trail and a recorded reason for access, the practice team could now take informed steps to support the patient.

Impact and outcome

With this new information, the practice was able to:

• Contact the patient’s mental health team to inform them of their current state of mind.
• Arrange a welfare check, ensuring professionals could reach out to them promptly.
• Encourage the patient to re-register with the practice so they could regain access to a named GP and ongoing care.

Without the Shared Care Record, the team would have had no way to quickly connect the patient to the right support. Instead of making multiple phone calls or being left without answers, they were able to act swiftly to keep them safe.

Key takeaways

This case highlights the critical role of the Shared Care Record in protecting vulnerable individuals. Having access to up-to-date information meant that healthcare professionals could work collaboratively across organisations, ensuring a joined-up approach to patient care. The Shared Care Record allowed the practice team to reconnect the patient with essential mental health services and provide the support they urgently needed.