ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by delving into the recent history of the collection, use and management of information in the national health service (NHS). The NHS is subject to constant change; this has major implications for the way in which information is gathered and used to support healthcare. The chapter continues by looking at the uses of the data that is collected in traditional records, and how a paper unified patient record (UPR) could be the forerunner of an electronic record that fulfils future information needs. The design of the Weston UPR has attempted to make the best use of the information within a patient record by ensuring that it is collected and stored in a standardised way at the point of care, so that it can be easily extracted at a later date. A key part of clinical governance is the use of clinical information – collecting it, storing it, analysing and using it.
