What is the Universal Care Plan For Londoners
A Universal Care Plan or ‘UCP’, is your own online care plan and is available to all Londoners.
Your UCP can be created with a healthcare professional, for example, your GP or a nurse.
The healthcare professional will ask you questions about yourself to find out how you would like to be cared for and supported.
Healthcare professionals in London who are involved in your care can access your UCP to easily find information about you.
Creating Your Universal Care Plan
Your healthcare professional will listen to you to understand your needs and make notes about:
- What is important to you
- What support you currently get
- What support you need and the best people or organisations to give you this support
- How you want to get care
This could include where you get care, for example, at a hospital or in the community
- Information about people you trust who might be involved in your care, including friends or family
Your answers to these questions will help to create your Universal Care Plan.
The information in your UCP will be updated as your current support and care needs change.
What is good about a Universal Care Plan?
The information in your UCP will be updated as your current support and care needs change.
You will work with a health and care professional to create your own UCP.
Healthcare professionals in London who are involved in your care can quickly access your UCP so that:
- You get the right care and support that you need in your daily life
- They know what is important to you
- They can see your medical information
- You do not have to repeat yourself to different professionals
UCPs are shared across health and social care services, which makes it easier for health and care professionals to provide the best care and support.
UCPs are useful for Londoners who go to hospital in an emergency or for appointments.
How to get a Universal Care Plan
A Universal Care Plan or UCP is your own online care plan. It is available to all Londoners.
Speak to a health or care professional, such as your GP or nurse, to find out how to create your own UCP.
How to view your UCP on your NHS App
The Universal Care Plan you create with a health or care professional can be found on your NHS App.
The UCP can also be viewed on the NHS login website.
For more information please read the Easy Read flyer and Easy Read leaflet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who will see my Universal Care Plan?
Any health and care professional involved in your care will see your Universal Care Plan including:
- NHS 111
- 999
- London Ambulance Service
- Accident & Emergency staff.
Health and care professionals can update your UCP when needed.
You can view your UCP on the NHS App.
The UCP team are working so that Londoners can create and update their own care plan on the NHS App in the future.
What happens if I do not want a Universal Care Plan?
If you decide not to have a Universal Care Plan there are a few things you will need to think about.
You might have to repeat yourself to different professionals and answer the same questions more than once.
Health and care professionals will not be able to quickly find
out how you would like to be cared for and supported.
It could take longer for health and care professionals to find
out your medical information even in an emergency.
Emergency services will not know your choices or what is
important to you if you are unconscious or do not have the capacity to tell them.
If you do not want a UCP you should speak to a health or care professional.
Make sure you understand how the UCP can support you before you decide not to have one.
Is information in my Universal Care Plan safe and secure?
The NHS must make sure your personal information is kept
safe and secure.
Your UCP will only be accessed by health and care staff who
support you.
All NHS staff get training to make sure personal information is kept confidential.
Your information will only be shared with colleagues involved in your care and support.
The NHS Digital Code of Practice on Confidential Information says that health and care staff must:
- Protect your information and keep it safe.
- Keep you up to date about how your information is used.
- Allow you to choose how your information is shared.
The UCP System Privacy Notice explains our technical and security measures.
What happens if someone dies?
When a person passes away, the UCP automatically updates to show that the person has died.
The next of kin, lasting power of attorney or Court order
protection of the person who passed away, can ask for the
information to be removed from the UCP system.
A health or care professional who has taken part in the patient’s care can remove a care plan from the UCP system.
Please speak to a healthcare professional for more information.
Giving consent for your Universal Care Plan
We would always advise you to give consent for your Universal Care Plan or UCP.
Most times your healthcare professional will talk to you before you create your UCP together.
If you find it difficult to make decisions, a UCP may be created for you by someone who knows you well such as:
- Someone with Lasting Power of Attorney that you agreed could make decisions for you.
- A family member or friend.
- A healthcare professional such as your GP or Doctor.
- A key worker.
Creating a UCP on your behalf is supported by:
• The law
- Professional standards that healthcare professionals follow.
Contact Us
For more information please email:
Patient Leaflets
Follow the links below to download or view these patient leaflets:
Universal Care Plan – Easy Read Patient Leaflet (Print ready)
Universal Care Plan – Easy Read Patient Leaflet (Web version)