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Somerset Cancer Register and PKB

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Somerset Cancer Register and PKB

The Somerset Cancer Register (SCR) Remote Monitoring System (RMS) integrates with Patients Know Best (PKB), providing a patient portal as part of the RMS offering.

The integration enables patients, carers, and healthcare teams to access a shared digital cancer record, supporting more coordinated care and remote monitoring.

Through the PKB portal, cancer teams can provide patients with access to key clinical information and approved resources.

Overview of the Integration

The SCR RMS uses a native integration to transfer data directly into the PKB patient portal, allowing patients to view their cancer-specific information alongside other health records they may hold in PKB.

How it works

  • Clinician opt-in: Data sharing is initiated when a clinician opts a patient into PKB within RMS.

  • Historic data: On first opt-in, all existing data held in RMS is automatically uploaded to PKB.

  • Ongoing data flow: After opt-in, all future results (e.g., blood tests, radiology) are automatically transferred without further action.

This ensures continuity of information and removes the need for repeated manual processes.

Patient Access and Features

Patients access their records via the PKB portal, which is accessible via the NHS App. The record is patient-owned and can be shared at their discretion with others involved in their care.

Core Features

  • Clinical data access: Diagnoses, laboratory results, and radiology reports

  • Appointments: Diary view of upcoming engagements

  • Resource library: Team-approved links, videos, and patient information

  • Patient-entered data: Symptoms, measurements (e.g. weight, blood pressure), medications and medical history

This supports patient engagement and self-management while maintaining clinical oversight.

Care Plans and Questionnaires

Cancer teams can use PKB functionality to support structured care and remote monitoring:

  • Digital care plans: Shareable and editable plans outlining treatment and care

  • Consent and pathways: Pre- and post-treatment information and digital consent

  • Questionnaires: Collection of patient-reported outcomes and holistic needs assessments

Integration Requirements

  • Whitelisting: Standard HL7 whitelisting via the Trust integration/IT team

  • No bespoke configuration is required beyond existing HL7 protocols

Patient Registration 

  • If an email address is recorded in SCR, an automated invitation is sent to patients

  • Additional communication and onboarding processes are managed by the Trust

 

Benefits for Clinical Teams 

  • Creation of a personalised digital record for each patient

  • Customisable follow-up workflows aligned to clinical pathways

  • Ability to monitor results against thresholds for safe remote management

  • Real-time visibility of investigation data within SCR

  • Worklist functionality to support caseload management

  • Reduced duplicate data entry through interoperability

  • Control over when information is first published to the patient portal

Benefits for Patients

  • Access to a single, digital cancer record

  • Ability to share information with carers and other professionals

  • Visibility of test results and reports without needing to contact teams

  • Appointment tracking via a diary view

  • Tools to track symptoms and measurements

  • Access to trusted, team-approved information resources

 

Key Points

  • A single clinician opt-in enables both historic and future data sharing

  • No additional action is required after initial opt-in

  • Integration uses standard HL7 processes, with no bespoke setup

  • Patient onboarding depends on available contact details and Trust processes

Further Information