PATIENTS will be able to look after their own medical notes in a pilot scheme aimed at improving care.

The project is being launched in Worcester to help with the care of the elderly as part of a National Health Service plan.

Members of Worcester District Community Health Council heard that the scheme was just one measure to help with the Community Trust's Single Assessment Service Plan.

It's a process across both the health and social services for older people, said Sandra Hulme, of the Community Trust.

The plan allows actual or potential needs of an individual to be identified to make an appropriate plan of action.

The meeting heard that patient-held notes would be piloted among a percentage of patients within the area.

This will enable the Trust to see how many notes go missing before deciding to launch it more widely.

Physician

When I was a house physician many years ago one of the jobs you had was to find medical backgrounds, said Dr David Tibbutt, a member of the Community Health Council.

If we have this, it will save time in A&E and the Medical Assessment Unit, and it will help the nurses.

But the ambulance rews must insist that patients bring notes with them and that they take them home with them.

Members stressed that patients needed to understand the scheme.

There needs to be education for the public so they know they have that responsibility, said Tamar Thompson, of the West Midlands Regional Office of the NHS.

There's quite a big issue about that and people will feel empowered.

The single assessment plan is aimed at elderly people who come to the attention of the health service for whatever reason.

It is intended to collect all relevant information in one meeting and to allow professionals to decide what further action needs to be taken.

The Government-led plan is intended to be in action before April 2003.