http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10584402/Dont-mislead-us-about-our-NHS-medical-records.html
You must write to opt out of this scheme if you do not wish to be part of this.
Data is NOT anonymous . The 'information ' leaflet was highly manipulative and distorted facts.
" These details will include NHS number, date of birth, postcode, gender and ethnicity, and a variety of medical information such as referrals to specialists, family history, screening tests and alcohol habits. Some data considered sensitive, such as sexually transmitted diseases or abortions, will be exempt – though why these should be considered any more private than other conditions is not clear – and the exceptions will be reviewed at some future date. Furthermore, this data will be kept indefinitely and periodically topped up.
At first, the Government had intended the programme to be compulsory: I had not appreciated that NHS medical records are the property of the Health Secretary, who, theoretically, can do what he likes with them. (Incidentally, why can’t we just keep our own records on a smart card and carry them around to be updated when we have treatment?) However, given the sensitivity of the reform, people will be allowed to opt out – ministers, though, are anxious to limit the numbers of those who do.
While the leaflet does advise that we can tell our GP if we do not wish to have our records extracted, this is not prominently advertised, in the clear hope that many people won’t bother and will be enrolled by default. Wouldn’t it have been better to include an opt-out form with the leaflet to send on to our doctor if we chose to? In any case, as reported today, this whole exercise may be in breach of EU data protection regulations, and won’t be allowed to proceed. "
Best
Golden
You must write to opt out of this scheme if you do not wish to be part of this.
Data is NOT anonymous . The 'information ' leaflet was highly manipulative and distorted facts.
" These details will include NHS number, date of birth, postcode, gender and ethnicity, and a variety of medical information such as referrals to specialists, family history, screening tests and alcohol habits. Some data considered sensitive, such as sexually transmitted diseases or abortions, will be exempt – though why these should be considered any more private than other conditions is not clear – and the exceptions will be reviewed at some future date. Furthermore, this data will be kept indefinitely and periodically topped up.
At first, the Government had intended the programme to be compulsory: I had not appreciated that NHS medical records are the property of the Health Secretary, who, theoretically, can do what he likes with them. (Incidentally, why can’t we just keep our own records on a smart card and carry them around to be updated when we have treatment?) However, given the sensitivity of the reform, people will be allowed to opt out – ministers, though, are anxious to limit the numbers of those who do.
While the leaflet does advise that we can tell our GP if we do not wish to have our records extracted, this is not prominently advertised, in the clear hope that many people won’t bother and will be enrolled by default. Wouldn’t it have been better to include an opt-out form with the leaflet to send on to our doctor if we chose to? In any case, as reported today, this whole exercise may be in breach of EU data protection regulations, and won’t be allowed to proceed. "
Best
Golden
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