HOSPITAL doctors, GPs and patients believe allowing medical records to be viewed outside surgeries will lead to safer care.

Bolton will become the first place in England to enable medical staff to look at patients' records outside the GPs' surgery.

Staff in key locations, such as those working in accident and emergency at the Royal Bolton Hospital, will be able to see, at a glance, allergies patients have, the medication they are taking and medication they have had an adverse reaction to in the past.

Secure passwords will be used to access a huge private network, allowing medical workers to see a summary of their patients' records.

The details are being uploaded on to a database and will be able to be accessed in about eight weeks.

It is hoped further information will be added to this and patients could be able to view their own records from any computer as soon as May.

Chris Moulton, an A&E consultant at the Royal Bolton Hospital, said: "In A&E departments, we have been waiting for something like the summary care record for a long time.

"Many patients come to us unconscious, intoxicated or just too sick to tell us about their medicines and allergies.

"Now we will have a safe and reliable way of finding out more about them from a secure and easily accessible record."

Two GPs surgeries in Bolton are taking part in the pilot scheme, although it will be extended across the borough in the coming months.

Letters have been sent to the 14,000 patients at the Kearsley Medical Centre and Kirby, Page and McMillen.

Dr Liaqat Natha, a GP at Kearsley, said: "We wouldn't be doing this if we weren't sure of the benefits to patients.

"The information will only be available to NHS staff directly involved in a patient's care, and they will have to securely access a system using an identity card and passwords to see that information."

At first, the information can only be accessed locally, but will be rolled out across England, meaning doctors anywhere will be able to look at patients' medical records instantly.

John Taylor, a patient in Bolton, said: "When I need medical treatment I want to know the healthcare professionals have up-to-date and accurate information about me to enable them to provide me with the correct treatment as quickly as possible. I want the people looking after my healthcare to be able to access my records when they need to, whether I'm in Bolton or on holiday in Cornwall."

Patients have the choice to opt out if they do not want their information stored in this way, and can change their mind at any time.