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NHS sharing records

(40 Posts)
apricot Sat 01-Feb-14 18:48:46

What do others intend doing? You have to actively opt out by telling your surgery and I wouldn't trust them to actually mark my records "Do not distribute to any Tom, Dick or Harry".
If we believe that our records will be used anonymously for the public good and do not opt out, will we, as suggested in today's paper, get an ad for Strepsils popping up following a visit to the doctor for a sore throat?
I'm not really bothered by confidentiality, never having had anything interestingly embarrassing, but don't like this sharing of records without actual consent.

durhamjen Thu 27-Feb-14 22:31:12

www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/jane-fae/is-selling-our-medical-data-to-insurers-crime-or-not
Put this link on the other thread. What does pseudonimised mean? Nothing according to this link. Insurers have been given your info. Who's going to be given it next? Any private healthcare company which wants it.

POGS Fri 28-Feb-14 11:13:36

I still can't get my knickers in a twist one way or another over this.

All I would care about is if I was taken ill outside of my local area or in the middle of the night, would I receive quicker medical assistance or evaluation of the health problem I present the hospital with. Or is that not one of the reasons behind this??

I'm sorry I don't read 'blued' posts when it comes to any thread of substance as it is inevitably nothing more than a posters political view. I like to read what the poster thinks and posts in his/her own words otherwise you are just debating with a 3rd party.

As for my records being used in a dubious way, I keep hearing from those who hate all things governmental, all my details are accessible anyway. I think that is possibly true but I don't have a concern over that either.

durhamjen Fri 28-Feb-14 11:27:21

No, POGS, that's not one of the reasons behind this. That's a different use of your information, which seems to get mixed up with the care.data system.
That's the summary care record, which all healthcare people who are directly concerned in caring for you can have access to. This system protects your confidentiality. Care.data does not, whatever the government tells you. I do not like being lied to by the government.
The third party being referred to above, opendemocracy, wants the government to stop being secretive. Not a bad ideal, in my opinion.

fifoldara Fri 28-Feb-14 11:42:57

"Your date of birth, full postcode, NHS Number and gender rather than your name will be used to link your records in a secure system,"

That doesn't sound 'anonymous' to me and we all know just how insecure these systems are!

Granniepam Fri 28-Feb-14 11:55:05

Having decided to opt out (I'm very identifiable) I've just been to my surgery and was efficiently given a form to fill in. The problem is that it really isn't clear exactly what each of the three categories you can choose from actually mean! I'm now off to do some more research! confused

durhamjen Fri 28-Feb-14 12:04:01

I do not hate all things governmental. I just hate what this government is doing to the health and welfare systems.

gangy5 Fri 28-Feb-14 12:39:55

I am quite happy for my details to be shared within the confines of the NHS but, this doesn't appear to be what will happen as details of patients have already been supplied to insurance companies. Where will it all end!!

I would like to think that confidentiality will be observed because it will be of great benefit to the NHS to have our details readilly available at the touch of a button. For one thing we would hope it would reduce filling in forms requesting the same details at every point of contact we make in the 'medical' world

durhamjen Fri 28-Feb-14 12:46:00

That's what the summary care record is supposed to do, Gangy.

durhamjen Fri 28-Feb-14 12:57:25

www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk has a map on it where you can find out if your GP practice has summary care records.
This system was set up by the previous government, and you received a 12 page booklet about it. You could also opt out of it if you wanted to.

RAF Fri 28-Feb-14 20:18:59

GadaboutGran (fantastic nickname!) you are very fortunate in being a patient of Tim Walter, who is a lovely GP who provides a huge amount of support in his spare time to the EMIS clinical system user group. I am not surprised you have a good surgery website! :-)

NHS England is going to have to wake up and change their attitude, or they risk destroying all trust in patient confidentiality. The result of that will be that patients will be reluctant to be totally honest with their GP, and that could have unhappy consequences.

durhamjen Fri 28-Feb-14 22:36:13

Don't you think, RAF, that that is what NHS England wants, along with the government? It means that the total takeover by private companies is made much easier. Divide and rule.
Even the CQC is ruled by an ex-Tory MP. Every part of the NHS is controlled by Tories.

durhamjen Sat 01-Mar-14 00:07:38

www.care-data.info/

This is a very interesting website written by a GP to show you exactly what information will be given about you and to whom.

durhamjen Sat 01-Mar-14 12:40:34

www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/ournhs/nhs-boss-apologises-for-tweeting-hitler-parody

This is what David Nicholson thinks of the man resposible for care.data

MiniMouse Sat 01-Mar-14 15:57:43

The Powers That Be would have us believe that the info is anonymised, but we can easily be identified by the postcode, dob, NHS number which will be with our info. The info will not be encrypted.

When I went into my GP's surgery I chatted with the Reception staff and they have all opted out and so have the doctors etc. That spoke volumes to me!!

I don't think it's simply a question of having anything to hide about ourselves, it's more about who will have access to sensitive info in the future - ie just how secure is it?!

The other important point is that Care Data does NOT benefit you in any way regarding for example if you were rushed into hospital and they needed access to your medical information. From what I have read, that information is already on a separate system.