NORTH Yorkshire residents will be given greater control of their health and care information, thanks to a new digital service launched by York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The trust has introduced a new patient-powered digital service accredited by the NHS - Patients Know Best (PKB). Designed to improve patient experience, it offers online access to personal health records to "revolutionise" the way patients access and use NHS services.

James Taylor, medical director at the trust, said: "Patients Know Best is hosted within the NHS network, so it’s just as secure as the information we as a hospital hold about patients.

"We chose this system because it meets the NHS requirements for health record systems."

All of the personal and health information is encrypted, with PKB only having access to your NHS number. This means only you and the people you choose can access your health information.

"It’s a bit like online banking, but instead, you use it to manage your health, regardless of which hospital", Mr Taylor added.

The service integrates patient data from existing IT systems - from local hospitals, GP surgeries, social care, and mental health services, to create one complete, ‘live’ health record.

Anyone who does not want to access their information online will continue to receive their letters and care in the usual way.

For further details on the new digital service, and to access it, click here.