Three GPs in the region have agreed to share doctors' consultation notes in an online portal to improve the continuity of care for patients when they visit the hospital and after-hours centre.

Whanganui Hospital and the Accident and Medical Centre have been able to view a summary of patients' GP records for the past two and a half years through the Shared Care Record.

The patient information currently shared between health providers, includes medications, allergies, immunisations, diagnoses, lab results and recalls.

Due to privacy concerns GPs have held back sharing doctors' notes until now. Gonville Health, Aramoho Health Centre and Bulls Medical Centre have all agreed to include their notes in the Shared Care Record. That will begin on Monday.

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That means those patients' appointment notes starting September 1 will be available to the hospital and Accident and Medical Centre if they visit there.

"Sharing patient consultation notes with the hospital and after-hours medical centres will provide additional clinical information to support diagnosis and treatment," said Bulls Medical Centre GP, Dr Ken Young.

Taihape Health is expected to follow suit.

All 11 general practices in the Whanganui Regional Health Network have implemented the general Shared Care Record, which means more than 57,000 enrolled patients are taking part.

Patients can opt out of the Shared Care Record by calling freephone 0800 727 664.