Medical Records

[ukanonymous]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10646151/Patients-should-be-warned-before-NHS-shares-medical-records-doctors-say.html

How are we supposed to opt out?

[black_cat51]

well yes, but as these records already exist, what's new there?

[emmie]

i suspect most people hope that their records aren't accessed by people who don't have any reason to view them. Isn't there something about doctor and patient confidentiality.

[jno]

your average hacker isn't interested in your health, only your credit card number. The people interested in your health are more likely to be insurance companies, and by and large I don't think they're going to be hacking government figures. I'm not really that worried abotu security. What I see is a governent scheme designed to benefit the government and drug companies, with nothing in it for me. I don't wish to be monetised in this fashion, so I've opted out.

[maggiebee]

Two people (maybe more) have asked this without a response...........so I'm asking again DOES THIS APPLY IN SCOTLAND?

[boxtops]

Not as far as I'm aware, Maggie - the OP's link specifically mentions NHS England.

[LazyGun]

I got a leaflet explaining it all, but not this January; It was actually September or so last year.

[emmie]

this mentions NHS England, so not sure.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10647031/NHS-medical-records-database-halted-amid-concerns.html

[jno]

it just says NHS England here

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/records/healthrecords/Pages/care-data.aspx

[granny grump]

I did this a fortnight ago - provided with a form signed it and handed it back - simples

[emmie]

i wasn't suggesting the hackers care, but insurance and other businesses may well do.

[LazyGun]

And no, it is not in Scotland. It is NHS England (and Wales) only at the moment. Had not heard it had been postponed by 5 months, which is interesting.

[jno]

six months, LG. Perhaps that is the start of concluding that it can't be made to work at all, though the ostensible reason is that the first stage - telling the public - has been screwed up.

[emmie]

strange that some people knew a while ago but others not heard of it at all

[gness]

Maggie...from googling I find it is only planned for England...so far.

Don't have time to type everything from my leaflet but information which may be extracted from our medical records include: NHS number, DOB, Postcode, gender and ethnicity, medical diagnoses inc. mental health, family history, prescriptions, referral to specialists, body mass index and smoking and alcohol habits.

Those are between me and my GP....I don't want any Tom, Dick and Harry at university or in a commercial organisation clicking a button to access those.

[emmie]

gness, which is what i was getting at. Bad enough standing in the surgery reception having to explain why you are there.

[gness]

I know, Em....I'm just waiting for it to go through....cause a huge cock up and have to listen to some clown say....Lessons have been learnt.

[boxtops]

You might want to join the mailing list here, to keep up to date with the latest on this topic http://medconfidential.org/how-to-opt-out/

[LazyGun]

I posted this guide to the planned scheme in the other thread, but it might be worth reposting for those interested ;

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-02/07/a-simple-guide-to-care-data

It is not happening in Scotland, NI or Wales, apparently.

"This will happen across England. It will not affect you if you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. If you live in Scotland or Wales, but are looked after by a GP in England, your data will be shared in the same way. You have the same right to opt out."

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/caredata-sharing-your-information

[boxtops]

....and here's the Opt-Out form from that link... http://medconfidential.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/caredata_trifold.pdf

[Peter Pedant]

lessons have been learnt ...... again

no one seemd to have recalled how £ 1bn was wasted on the last try ....and then the poeple responsible for the cock up tried to pass responsibility onto other schmicks. Knighthoods all round ...