Shared Care Record helps paramedic save life in Essex

Shared Care Record helps paramedic access vital information quickly

A quick-thinking paramedic and a new digital system have been credited with helping to save a person’s life in Essex.

Lu Harrington, a Senior Clinical Paramedic with East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, was able to access vital information using the Mid and South Essex Shared Care Record. This allowed the ambulance service to quickly identify key contacts and ensure the patient received urgent, life-saving support.

The Shared Care Record brings together important patient information from across health and social care organisations. This helps professionals make faster, safer decisions when caring for people.

It includes information such as:

Medications
Allergies
Medical conditions
Hospital discharge information
Adult social care support
Emergency contacts and next of kin

This information is securely available to authorised health and care professionals involved in a person’s care.

Concern raised after neighbour had not been seen for several days

The incident began when a concerned person called 999 after noticing their neighbour had not been seen for several days and their curtains remained closed.

This type of call is not uncommon, but it can be challenging when limited personal information is available.

Lu was working in the Unscheduled Care Coordination Hub when she received the call. Using the Shared Care Record, she was able to quickly locate contact details for the patient’s next of kin.

This enabled responders to contact a local key holder, who was able to access the property and ensure the patient received urgent medical attention.

Digital system supports faster, safer decision-making

Lu explained how valuable the Shared Care Record is in emergency and routine situations:

Having access to the Shared Care Record helped us get the right help to the patient quickly, and in this case, it may well have saved their life.

It’s been invaluable, not just in emergencies like this but in our day-to-day work. It helps us find accurate information fast, even if names or dates of birth are recorded differently.

We often use it to check medications, which helps us decide whether someone can be safely cared for at home or needs hospital treatment. It also shows us whether someone has already gone to A&E, helping us avoid unnecessary ambulance callouts.

The Shared Care Record gives authorised professionals secure access to essential information, with strict safeguards in place to ensure only those directly involved in a person’s care can view it.

Supporting more joined-up care across Essex

This case highlights the importance of sharing information safely between health and care organisations.

When professionals can access accurate information quickly, it improves decision-making, reduces delays, and helps ensure people receive the right care at the right time.

The Shared Care Record supports better coordination between NHS services, social care, and other partners, helping services work more effectively together.

Part of the NHS’s wider digital transformation

The Shared Care Record forms part of the NHS’s wider digital transformation, helping to improve care through better use of technology and data.

Tom Abell, Chief Executive of NHS Essex, said:

Technology like the Shared Care Record is helping us break down barriers between services and work as one team to support patients more efficiently.

But it is the skill, professionalism, and dedication of people like Lu that truly bring its benefits to life, turning digital tools into real-world impact for the people we serve.

Delivering real benefits for patients and professionals

Since launching in August 2024, the Shared Care Record has already made a significant impact across Essex.

It has:

Been used over 638,000 times
Supported 8,550 health and care professionals
Enabled access to more than 977,000 important care documents
Delivered an estimated £3.7 million in annual efficiencies

By bringing important information together in one secure place, the Shared Care Record is helping professionals deliver faster, safer, and more coordinated care for people across Essex.