Handy Tip to Save Time: Request Your Summary Care Record
- Apr 27, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 19
When it comes to applying for things like Attendance Allowance or a Blue Badge, one of the biggest hurdles can be pulling together the right medical paperwork. It can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already juggling appointments, caring responsibilities and everyday life.
Here is a simple time saving tip that can make the process much easier.
You can request a Summary Care Record (SCR) directly from your GP surgery.
It is free, quick to request, and accepted as official medical evidence for applications such as Attendance Allowance and Blue Badges.
Why Is This So Useful?
A Summary Care Record can:
Save time and stress You do not need to track down multiple letters or reports.
Provide official evidence SCRs are recognised and accepted for benefit and support applications.
Cost nothing GP surgeries cannot charge for providing your Summary Care Record.
Be easy to request You can usually ask by email, phone or in person.
A Summary Care Record usually includes key information such as current medication, allergies, long term conditions and important medical history. For many applications, this is exactly what is needed.
GP surgeries receive requests like this regularly. Asking for a Summary Care Record is routine and you are entitled to it.
If you are helping someone else
If you are supporting someone to apply, you will usually need their consent recorded with the GP surgery first.
Most surgeries have a simple Consent to Share Information form. This can often be completed online or at reception and only needs to be done once.
How to Request Your Summary Care Record
You can copy and paste the email template below to make it really easy.
Subject line: Summary Care Record request for Mr/Mrs/Ms [First Name Last Name]
Email:
Dear Secretaries,
Re: Mr/Mrs/Ms [First Name Last Name]
Date of Birth: [XX-XX-19XX]
Address: [Full Address including Postcode]
I would like to request a copy of my Summary Care Record as a supporting document for my [Attendance Allowance / Blue Badge] application.
OR
I am supporting [Name] to request a copy of their Summary Care Record as a supporting document for their [Attendance Allowance / Blue Badge] application.
Please could you:
Email me a digital copy of the record OR
Print a copy for me to collect from the Surgery reception.
Thank you for your help.
Kind regards,
[Your First Name and Last Name]
(If requesting on behalf of someone else, please also state your relationship, e.g., “wife and carer of Joe Bloggs”)
A Final Helpful Tip
A Summary Care Record can also be useful for other situations, such as hospital appointments or official paperwork where you need to explain someone’s health needs clearly and quickly.
If you need help writing your email, sorting consent or understanding what to ask for, you can always speak to one of The Good Company People team. We are very happy to help.
For more information about Summary Care Records, you can also visit the NHS website:
If you need a hand writing your email or filling out the consent form, don’t worry, you can always ask one of our Good Company People team to help you.
