Patients who want to opt out of having their health records
uploaded to a central database have been told they will need to do
so in person.
But the arrangements for opting out of a Summary Care Record
under the NHS's £12.7bn National Programme for IT are, for
patients, inconsistent and confusing, Computer Weekly has
learned.
Depending on where they live, patients can fill out a form
online and post it to their GP to opt out of a summary care record.
Other patients are being told to make their GP or primary care
trust aware of their decision to opt out "in person".
Officials at the Department of Health are discouraging patients
from opting out because too many gaps in the central database
increases the risk of the summary care record going unused by most
doctors and nurses.
But some patients are concerned that their confidential medical
details could be available to nosey NHS staff, council officials,
hackers and the government.
Stoke on Trent Primary Care Trust has sent a letter to patients
which sets out the benefits of a summary care record saying that
access to their health information "could be a life saver". It says
this is because "crucial information will be immediately available
to healthcare staff dealing with you".
Initially the summary care record will initially contain "only
details of allergies, recent prescriptions and previous bad
reactions to medicines". In future health problems such as a heart
attack, diabetes and asthma may be added to the summary care
record.
To opt out patients must do so in person. The letter says: "If
you do not wish to have a Summary Care Record you will need to make
us aware of this choice in person. Please use the contact details
below and we will make arrangements for you to do this."
But patients may opt out by completing an online form and
posting it to a GP practice where the patient is registered. The
form is worded to deter patients from opting out, by warning them
of possible harm to their health or treatment.
It says:
• Clinicians treating you may not be aware of your current
medications in order to treat you safely and effectively
• Clinicians treating you may not be made aware of current
conditions and/or diagnoses leading to a delay or missed
opportunity for correct treatment.
• Clinicians may not be aware of any allergies/adverse reactions
to medications and may prescribe or administer a drug/treatment
with adverse consequences."
Patients are asked to confirm that they have understood the
"consequences of taking this action and have carefully considered
the implications of this for my health care".
Pulse magazine says that in south Birmingham, which is an early
adopter sites for the summary care record, two-thirds of GP
practices have now signed up to the care records scheme and letters
have been sent to 77,614 patients - of whom 517 have opted out in
person.
Dr Grant Ingrams, co-chairman of the British Medical
Association's GP IT committee, told Pulse: "For patients worried
about privacy anyway the last thing they want is to go and justify
that to some official. It's appalling they're going to torture
someone basically."
Dr Neil Bhatia, a GP in Yateley in Hampshire who used the
Freedom of Information Act to obtain letters being sent by primary
care trusts to patients on the summary care record, said:
"Connecting for Health seem determined to make it as difficult as
possible for patients to opt out."
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