Dudley Council Launches Innovative Shared Care Record Programme to Support Social Care Professionals

Dudley Council has launched the One Health and Care (OHC) shared care record programme, marking the first time a local authority in the Black Country has gone live with such an initiative. The programme allows health and social care professionals to access up-to-date, relevant patient information, improving coordination and efficiency in patient care. It includes GP practices, four acute hospital trusts, Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, with plans for further expansion to other local authorities.

Graphnet is a key partner in this initiative, providing the technology behind the OHC system. By facilitating secure and seamless data sharing between different care providers, Graphnet’s system ensures that health and social care professionals can access the necessary information when they need it most, without patients having to repeatedly share their medical history. The programme aims to improve the integration of care, enabling more responsive and personalised support for residents in Dudley and beyond.

Councillor Andrea Goddard, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, highlighted the system’s role in reducing the need for residents to repeatedly provide their medical information, while Councillor Ed Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Transformation, praised the programme as a significant step towards a more integrated care system.

Mark Axcell, Chief Executive for NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, noted that the shared record addresses challenges faced by residents who previously had to repeat information to different health and care professionals. The OHC system ensures that those involved in a patient's care can view relevant information held by other parts of the NHS and social care.

For more information about the One Health and Care programme, visit the Black Country Integrated Care System website