Shared records: towards collaborative working with families

In response to government policy on integrated records, common assessment and information sharing, health and social care professionals who work with children and young people are reviewing how patient documentation is designed, implemented and evaluated. A survey of members of a multiprofessional team within a regional children's unit was carried out to inform the development of collaborative (shared) patient documentation. A focus group activity using the nominal group technique generated information to construct a questionnaire which was piloted and sent to 125 key informants identified using 'snowballing' technique (Blacktop 1996). Of the 62 respondents (a 50 per cent response rate) only four did not support a patient to be accessed by all who provide care. Sixty per cent strongly agreed or agreed that any new record design should provide space for contributions from the child/young person and the carer/parent. Despite this clear consensus, opposition by some gate keepers may still slow the introduction of shared records in children's services.