Patients' records placed on CD-Rom

Patients can already consult the surgery website

Patients at a Wiltshire surgery are being given CD-Roms containing their medical records.

Doctors at the Taw Hill surgery in Swindon say the disks will be compatible with all standard computers with internet access.

They will be particularly useful for patients who travel a lot, or who have particularly complicated medical records, a spokesman said.

Patients will be able to check everything the doctor has put into their records is correct.

The spokesman said the new system would also improve doctor-patient relationships by increasing trust.

The surgery also allows patients to book appointments on line and provides a website with information to help patients identify ailments.