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?

[LazyGun]

You go along to your local surgery and tell reception that you wish for your records to be opted out.

[LazyGun]

Discussion on this topic earlier in health and fitness

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Health-and-Fitness/Question1314495.html

[ukanonymous]

I bet no body knows :) So much for the option of opting out then. How can we opt out if they dont even tell us how to?

[gness]

I picked up a form from my surgery today.....I sign it to say I wish to opt out and return it.

[rockyracoon]

I rang my surgery and they said put it in writing, easy peasy, doing mine this afternoon.

[boxtops]

There have been several threads on this topic already - and a leaflet is being delivered to every household explaining the process. Trouble is, it's coming through the door with the postman and looks like a takeaway leaflet - I bet many will be binned unread.

I'm not opting out - I'm in favour of the original proposal that my medical records will be available for research, and also be available at the click of a button wherever in the country I need medical attention.

[LazyGun]

What do you mean, "I bet nobody knows"? Plenty of people know, and there has been information disseminated, although admittedly in a not particularly high profile way.

All it takes, assuming people wish to opt out, is to get off your arse and go down to the surgery and let them know you wish a type 1 opt-out of the NHS England care.data scheme.

[LazyGun]

@boxtops ""and also be available at the click of a button wherever in the country I need medical attention"

I agree that might be a worthwhile thing to have. But this scheme does not offer anything along those lines.

[boxtops]

I'm unclear why this is only today appearing in the DT - it was on the TV news several times last week, and in some of the papers then, too. Many GPs are joining a protest in favour of scrapping it.

[boxtops]

That was the original plan, lazy - to centralise people's records. That would have been a good thing.

[boxtops]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Law/Question1313060.html

Here's a previous thread with lots of links in it, from a couple of weeks ago.

[jno]

My doctor just had opt-out forms at reception; I just filled it out and signed it on the spot, and handed it over.

Boxtops, that was my initial feeling; but once I found that if you go to A&E they won't be able to access your records - but they'll be sold to drug companies - I decided there was no advantage in any of it for me, so I opted out.

[LazyGun]

@Boxtops That was a different IT plan, (NHS Connecting for Health) Boxy, that was scrapped because they messed it up bigtime. This latest initiative (NHS Care.data and the Health and Social Care Information Centre) has always been about the large scale collection of individualised patient data for statistical analysis and strategic health planning across the nation, rather than a joined up approach to individuals care records.

[boxtops]

I certainly remember Connecting for Health.....

[LazyGun]

I quite like the idea of joined up record keeping, so that wherever you presented they could access your medical records. Shame they were so inept and profligate in trying to implement the system really.

But this latest scheme is not designed to do that, in any way, shape or form.

[gness]

The form I have signed to opt out tells me that surgeries, hospitals, A&E etc. will not use or be able to use this database.

The data is likely to be made available to universities and commercial organisations outside the NHS.

If I don't opt out my GP cannot control or protect how my information is used, shared or who has access to it.

I'm not happy with that so won't allow it to happen to my records.

[Sqad]

All one needs is a credit card with all your medications implanted and deciphered anywhere in the UK...chemists and hospitals.

In my experience, GP notes are inaccurate and basically useless, understandable only to the GP him/herself.......unless things have improved.

[ladybirder]

How long do we have to Opt Out? I guess there is a time limit?

[gness]

The data upload begins in March. It appears that if you are undecided you can opt out now and opt in later but once in you will be unable to have your data deleted by the HSCIC.

[solvitquick]

The system is wrong in that it is "opt-out" rather than "opt in". I object to this.
The only way appears to be via the surgery, but these differ judging by posts above and some surgeries are internally confused. See below.
(a) On 'phoning my surgery I was told I had to visit the surgery in person (generally true) and sign a form.
(b) I went there but there were no forms being used just the electronic medical histories.
(c) O.K. so I was asked for my basic I.D. and the receptionist clicked away and told me I was opted out. But would I receive confirmation? "No that's it". I believe her, so I'm out.
Why have I opted out? Because I believe the data will be leaked to insurance bodies etc. Result: more junk mail, more cold calls.
What have I got to hide - nothing juicy but the info belongs to me and if someone wants to buy it they have to pay me (a very great deal).
Intentions sound good at first sight but we know what the road to hell is paved with.
SIQ.