Core information standard: Reports

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• Most groups expressed some uncertainty, with just under 30% of participants saying 'not sure' or 'no' to including assessment summaries in the core information set.
• Nurses and mental health professionals were most keen to include assessment summaries, more than 80% of both groups marked 'yes'.

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A number of themes emerged from the qualitative analysis:

Information being entered and kept up to date Particular emphasis upon:

• It should be an individual's decision as to whether assessment information is included or shared.
• The currency of the information held. Different views were expressed as to whether only the latest assessment should be held or whether history might inform decision making. What was universally agreed was that the information should be up to date and should perhaps include a future review date.
• Could an individual challenge information?

Concerns about Information overload Concerns were expressed that there was a fairly high risk of information overload. Suggestions ranged from:

• Flag that an assessment had been made, but with no detail
• Summary information only
• Summary, with link to detail

Security and confidentiality 'need to know'

• Many comments reflected (or referred to) those in question 4 responses. This included access on a 'need to know' basis, with data only being shared if relevant to the service being delivered.
• Two respondents commented on the high risk of information becoming available to third parties through coercion which might be detrimental to the individual, e.g. an abusive partner and suggested that this information should only be available to professionals.

Risk of negative labelling of individuals

• Several respondents commented upon the risk of individuals being negatively labelled due to out of date historic information and the need to ensure that information accurately reflects the current situation.

Avoidance of repetition and duplication

• Several comments identified a benefit being that this would reduce the number of times that individuals had to repeat information to different professionals, and for that information to be duplicated across services.

Other comments Other notable comments included:

• There should be individual and professional-entered assessments
• A view was expressed that formulation (professional interpretation of results) was key; conversely the view was expressed that it was irrelevant as subjective
• The assessment should be linked to an encounter
• Avoid clinical jargon and make it easy for the individual to understand.

"As MIU practitioner/paramedic, having access to up-to-date ECG will help identify any new cardiac problems or confirm an existing problem normal for patient." (AHP, primary care)

"Mental health needs particular safeguards and should be considered separately." (Person who uses services and Carer)

"Assessments vary so widely, particularly the free text elements and lack of common assessment approach across health and social care. This will likely mean the key data for the front-line staff is in the free text, and the free text options will vary greatly. This makes commonality for sharing very difficult." (Business Analyst, social care, local authority)