NHS Database Opt Out

[TW]Fox;16430884 said:
If you honestly think a government would sell highly personal medical records then.. you've been wearing to many tinfoil hats.
Click to expand...

Why not? They sell our car details and addresses to private companies.

The 'public interest' clause is a huge unknown and there are many people who would want our medical details.
 
Vanilla said:
The 'public interest' clause is a huge unknown and there are many people who would want our medical details.
Click to expand...
It's not such a huge unknown, as the clause already exists for divulging confidential information - but it is very tightly controlled and the decision is never made lightly - and unless the law is changed the fact that data is centralised won't make a difference

Klo said:
My Dad is a doctor, and he's opting out, so I will be as well!
Click to expand...
Doctors don't have some special insight into information systems/data security and are just as likely to fall foul of paranoia as anyone else. I would urge everyone to think for themselves and not be swayed by what, for example, their GP might be doing bacause it just represents one opinion - likely based on exactly the same info as anyone else
 
Last edited:
j00ni said:
Doctors don't have some special insight into information systems/data security and are just as likely to fall foul of paranoia as anyone else. I would urge everyone to think for themselves and not be swayed by what, for example, their GP might be doing bacause it just represents one opinion - likely based on exactly the same info as the rest of us
Click to expand...

Looking at this thread there seems to be a lot of people who either work for the NHS and have knowledge of this system or who have something to do directly with the development of this system.

I class my doctor (who gave me the same advice as Klo) in the same light. It's their world, their system, their industry.

At the end of the day you can always opt-in at any time.
 
j00ni said:
It's not such a huge unknown, as the clause already exists for divulging confidential information - but it is very tightly controlled and the decision is never made lightly - and unless the law is changed the fact that data is centralised won't make a difference
Click to expand...

It's a huge unknown because it is not defined and the rules are changed constantly. They can dress anything up to be in the public interest and we will have absolutely no say over it.

The data being centralised makes all the difference in this discussion because then it can be easily sold. All of a sudden it becomes a plausable source of information for employers, insurance companies and the like and low behold the NHS realises it has the ability to charge £5 for each access to a medical record. They then claim the companies have reasonable cause and off they go! Kerrrchiiiing.
 
The database seems like a good thing, I'm so sick of waiting weeks for medical records to arrive. Plus if you're mental enough not to wear a wristband when you're diabetic or allergic to drugs it could help you too if you end up in the hospital.
 
Abraham said:
so despite admitting this and making it completely obvious beforehand, you feel you need to keep commenting on your knowledge as fact about the NHS NPfIT?
Click to expand...
Actually, I have never used the descriptor NPfIT but we'll let that pass. What I have said is that I am not at all happy about the idea of my patient record (as currently held on my GP's non-NHS system(s)) ending up on ANY centralised database; I can't see any advantage to me, I doubt the accuracy, currency or security of such a system; I suspect that sooner or later, identifiable data will be sold, released or stolen without my agreement or knowledge and I suspect that any such system (or gravy train as it should more properly be known) will cost an absolute fortune and will never work.


However, my point has been pretty much from the beginning that you should ask your GP's advice and I suspect that you will hear that they have requested that their data NOT be loaded. Accept or ignore my suggestion and the comments of a few informed posters who have already followed this route, I really don't care :p
 
stockhausen said:
However, my point has been pretty much from the beginning that you should ask your GP's advice and I suspect that you will hear that they have requested that their data NOT be loaded. Accept or ignore my suggestion and the comments of a few informed posters who have already followed this route, I really don't care :p
Click to expand...
As pointed out, while your GP may know their current system inside out (although I actually find even that quite unlikely) they are far far from a reliable source regarding the centralised patient records system, fears about security are best judged by the people who know how the innards of the system work, not the end user, same goes for any IT system, it's not all about paying consultants loads of money for the sake of it, it's about getting people who know what they're talking about as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom