Collation of NHS central database. How do you feel about it?

[Saggarmakersbottomknocker]

The Government proposes to collect the nation's medical records onto a central database. I'm not happy about it. What about you?

Info about opting out is available TheBigOptOut

Not bothered?

Some surgerys have said they will be uploading records without your consent.

If it means that my GP will have a clue what's been prescribed to my DS at the hospital and vice versa then its a good thing in my view.

I think it's a good idea.
For example turnng up at A&E the medical staff would have access to your notes immediately without all the faffing around asking you questions.

The information won't just be available within the NHS.

What if there are things about you on your records that are untrue or that you disagree with?

Have to say it doesn't really bother me either - I doubt they're very secure atm, and anyone in government who was determined to get access to them probably could.

Though you just know the whole thing will be yet another of those big computer system c*ck-ups, where it's contracted out to one company, who then make a mess of it/keep upping the price for it, like all those MOD ones etc that you regularly hear of.

If I have concerns its more about the c*ck up potential described by JackieNo. I don't subscibe to the Big Brother thoery. The data protection act is pretty up to date and most of the information could not be used in anger anyway (if indeed anyone with access had the skill to use it outside its intended purpose). A database like this, if created properly could also be a very effective tool in understanding diseases and their risk factors better.

I'm quite interested in how much furore there has been over National ID stuff and yet this seems to be more widely accepted as OK.

I'm a bit on the fence on it all TBH. Dd has massive medical issues and I can see that a properly joined up medical database would be helpful, in fact possibly a lifesaver.

However there seems to be some issue that this datebase will be available for 'Secondary Usage'. And I'm not happy about people knowing that I've maybe visited a GUM clinic or had a termination for example, unless they need to know that for medical purposes.

I know what you mean SMBK but that information is stored now, just not centrally so someone with the right access could get it now. I think that id cards have been taken by certain groups and hijacked for political purposes. They have become the band wagon for 'human rights' (not that I particularly care either way). Unfortuntely the amount of coverage an issue gets has little to do with its real significance and more to do with who wants to use it to promote their cause.

TBH, I'm strongly in favour of this. For one, I can't imagine that the current archaic paper record system is exactly a gold-standard of efficiency and security, what with records stacked high in basements, transfered around in hospital mail systems and big plastic boxes, left in hospital corridors etc. I think electronic, centralised records will make relevant information available more quickly, and hopefully will improve patient safety (and that this aspect is not being pushed by the govt or NHS because people don't exacly want to discuss failures in patient safety due to poor record management at the moment). Isn't there a sealed envelope system as well? I thought that anything to do with sexual health or disputed records can be hidden at the patient's request, a bit like GUM clinic records are stored separately from your other records in the current paper system.

According to the website, sealed records have not yet been developed and the initial upload will go ahead without them.

BMA Info

I'm interested that there hasn't been much more of a furore aver this.
It makes sense being able to access patients notes from defferent places like OP, A+E, GP etc, but anyone in the country who has access to the central spine, can access anyone's health records throughout the country.
Interesting info I bet insurance companies would love to get their hands on , and quite honestly I don't think the IT system does have good enough security to stop someone who wanted to getting in.
Also any old BF could get information on my clinical records if he worked in Exeter and I lived in Brighton, just because he was also a medic. I know it is all traceable etc, but I think the potential for massive abuse is available.

The information I have has been given to me by our GP. He has a notice in the surgery noting his personal concern with regard security and the secondary usage.

i don't mind really. you can opt out can't you

Agree with DarrellRivers. Sounds great in theory - joined-up thinking would be the phrase I suppose - but I am concerned about the security too. My GP also has info about this in the waiting room otherwise I would not know about it. Do people know it is happening at all?

One aspect that worries me is that spyware is being installed in my area so that the local NHS trust can collect records from GP's IT systems without their knowledge. It just makes me uneasy - lots of people confide in their GP imagining it goes no further. Yet someone in social services, say, at the other end of the country could access it if they wanted to.

No, there is not an opt out. There is a campaign trying to get an opt out introduced - that's the link OP has included.

oh sorry, on the news the other day they said there was!

SEA sorry for jumping down your throat - came out a bit more shouty than I meant it to!

I just have a vague unease about it.

This is the Opt Out Info

You possibly won't be able to opt out completely. Initially they wanted to go ahead without consent. The BMA want you to have to give explicit consent.

As a medical secretary I've been following this subject quite closely. I attended a conference in London before xmas with other medical secretaries to discuss electronic records and other related issues.

Once your records are held electronically, they can, in theory, be accessible anywhere in the world to someone with the access codes/passwords. This is what will happen when they outsource medical secretarial work to the far east/india etc.

There was a scary case in the USA where an outworker, typing into medical records via her computer in India, decided that the private company who had won the contract weren't paying her enough and she decided to contact the hospitals she was typing for, threatening to post patients names and medical histories onto the internet if they did not pay her a huge amount of money. To show she was serious, she posted one lot, with the threat to post more every week until the hospital paid up.

I cannot find the link to this story now, but I'll keep searching.

It also means that, in the future, if you want to ring up a hospital or doctor or clinic, you will be put through to a huge foreign call centre (in the style of banks and insurance companies). Appointments will be booked centrally via call centres too.

There are many more issues too numerous to post. It is scary stuff and I do not like the way it's going TBH. There was an article in the paper last week saying that the government was thinking of outsourcing certain 'treatments' to companies like Tesco!! Imagine the can of worms that will open!

Yeah, it's a bit confusing - it says this:

"There is no opt out whatsoever for your demographic details. You can only have them hidden in special circumstances if the police or social services request it?if, for example, you are a celebrity or on a witness protection scheme. Many public and private sector workers will otherwise have access to your address and phone number, from social workers to pharmacists."

But then the page you linked to says there are 3 different levels of opting out and explains how to do it. I'm confused.

themoon66, that is interesting. Scary too. I know the whole medical records system needs to be more efficient but I can't see why it has to be a)national or b)accessible by so many different people. Clerical staff; social workers etc from all over the country being able to see everything??

At the moment, medical centres take medical confidentiality seriously, and also the clumsiness of the current system, ie each surgery not being linked means that in practice there are only a limited number of people who could access your notes.
With all the outsourcing going on, God only knows what will happen.
I understand now why Boots has got some American healthcare provider interested in it, they must be planning to tender for primary care services in some inner city areas (along with Tescos)
Say goodbye to ever seeing the same GP again

Thanks for that themoon. I'm interested in what people on the 'inside' think. As a medical secretary will you have access via smart card?

There is a link to an opt out letter on that last link. My GP is handing out those letters.

Do you know I myself would not mention something to my GP/MW/HV because although I might trust them individually, I do not know how the information is going to accurately recorded on the system and then not taken out of context.