A greater number of patients across Kent are set to benefit from more informed, joined up and safer care following South East Coast Ambulance Service’s (SECAmb) expansion of access to shared care records.

SECAmb frontline clinicians, based in Paddock Wood, have joined colleagues in Ashford in accessing patient records via the Kent and Medway Care Record (KMCR) system, allowing them to see a joined-up view of an individuals’ care, including admission and discharge summaries from multiple health providers.

The system contains key information from hospital trusts, community and mental health providers, social care teams and GP practices. Ashford clinicians began testing access to the KMCR system on 27 April 2026 as part of SECAmb’s drive to support more informed clinical decision-making at the point of care.

Between 26 April and 15 May, Ashford clinicians accessed the systems on more than 800 occasions to support their care and decision making.

The expanded early adoption, which began at Paddock Wood on 18 May, to conclude 22 June 2026, will run alongside the recent rollout of the national system, GP Connect to all SECAmb frontline clinicians. GP Connect allows authorised clinicians to view information such as medication, allergies and recent consultations recorded by a patient’s registered GP.

Paddock Wood Paramedic, Lauren Brown said: “I’m using the system on every shift to help me work more efficiently and to guide me in making more informed treatment decisions. Reducing the time spent gathering information from multiple systems and services means we have more time to spend on patient care and treatment. It can help us avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and ensure our patients receive more suitable care where appropriate."

Accessed via the Trust’s electronic patient clinical record (ePCR), rollout of the systems forms a key part of SECAmb’s clinically-led strategy and the NHS 10-year plan to increase digital capability.

Direct access to the systems enhances the quality and safety of patient care and improves efficiency with ambulance teams less reliant on having to contact GP practices or clinicians in the Trust’s emergency operations centres or clinical hubs.

With a more complete picture of a patient’s health, clinicians can ensure patients receive the most appropriate care for their condition first time and reduce the number of avoidable hospital journeys.

The introduction of the systems forms part of SECAmb’s overall aim to design a future model which will be compatible with the Trust’s overall shared care records system, and which will integrate fully to the National Care Record System (NCRS) as a single access point for clinicians. The early adoption will inform plans head of a wider rollout across Kent and Medway.

SECAmb Shared Care Records Clinical Manager, Michael Whitcombe said: “We’re pleased to be extending access to KMCR alongside the use of GP Connect. As clinicians, having timely access to accurate patient information at our fingertips allows us to make confident, informed decisions at the patient’s side. It allows clinicians to focus on patient care rather than chase information, enhancing patient safety and ensuring care is joined up across NHS services.”