Thumbprints access health records

Patients are accessing their medical records by scanning their thumbprints at their GP surgery.

The technology is being tested in four GP practices to give more patients access to their records and speed up doctors' appointments.

Patients can book appointments using the system, called the Patient Access Electronic Record System (PAERS).

It has now been trialled by the Wells Park Practice in Sydenham, south-east London, for several months.

Just by scanning a thumbprint the patient can gain access to the system or book in after arriving for a GP appointment.

Patient feedback

There are no passwords or pin numbers to remember, so records are secure and cannot be seen by anyone else.

Test results and letters to and from the practice, can be viewed from kiosks in the surgery using touch screen technology.

Dr Brian Fisher, a GP at the practice and a PAERS project executive, said: "The arrivals system has definitely saved time for receptionists without a feeling of distance or poorer service for patients," he said.

"There has been some reorganisation at reception to ensure fingerprinting is carried out systematically.

"It takes only a few seconds but with 8,500 patients, that still takes up time."

Dr Fisher said patients had reported errors which were then corrected by GPs.

"They have also made suggestions about how the data could be presented differently and we are constantly looking at those recommendations," he added.