The Department of Health would like to remind residents to consider whether they wish to have a Manx Emergency Care Record (MECR) created for them and if not, and they wish to opt out, to complete and return the opt out form to their GP Practice by 13th October 2010. The (MECR) has become possible because of recent investment modernisation of IT systems in Isle of Man health services. The MECR is a summarised electronic record of key medical information for use in emergency situations. It will cover all Manx residents living in the Isle of Man who are registered with an Isle of Man GP. The MECR will draw on information already held in existing Isle of Man based health care systems, which can normally only be accessed with the person’s consent and by authorised care staff. The record will only be used in emergencies. David Killip, Department of Health Chief Executive Officer said, “The leaflet has been out for several weeks now and there has been a very positive response from the public to this initiative. From the phone calls and correspondence to the Department many people have indicated their support for the (MECR) and what it is going to achieve. Whilst the commissioning of the (MECR) system progresses well, the Department would be grateful if any resident who does not wish a MECR, made their indications known on the opt out form and return it to their GP Practice by the due date.” The Manx Emergency Care Record will, in an emergency, bring together key information that is already held on residents into one place so that those directly involved in treating the patient have key aspects immediately to hand. All MECR information is kept in a highly secure environment and all access to a MECR is recorded and audited. Administrative arrangements for the MECR allow anyone who opts in but later wishes to opt out, to do so. Equally someone who opts out can opt back in again, but there will be a time delay whilst their consent record is updated. If anyone needs extra copies of the leaflet, details can be obtained from the Department’s website, www.gov.im/health, their GP Surgery, by emailing mecr@gov.im or ringing (01624) 685967 - ENDS -