From 1st of September, NHS Digital plans to roll out its General Practice Data for Planning and Research.

I am a Barrister of England and Wales and feel strongly that everyone should be given the choice of how their data is used. I don't necessarily object to companies having access to some data but I object to the data being shared without prior, informed consent on what information is shared, and with whom.

Watch my video here:

https://youtu.be/vydHzQ3uuCM

10 years' worth of YOUR NHS data will be collected for a “wide variety of research and analysis to help run and improve health and care services”.

What is the problem with this?

It is "opt-out" rather than "opt-in" - so your data will be shared unless you take action by the 1st of September 2021.

Dr Ellen Welch, a GP and the editorial leader of Doctors' Association UK, said: 

“NHS Digital has failed to publicise this adequately to patients or healthcare staff, and we feel more time is needed to explain to patients how exactly their data will be used, who will benefit from it and what implications it may have for individuals.”

This should be "opt-in", rather than "opt-out" - just like virtually every website you visit that insists you acknowledge and consent to tracking cookies.

NHS DIGITAL WEBSITE:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-collections-and-data-sets/data-collections/general-practice-data-for-planning-and-research

Read what the BBC says in the subject here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-57383992

Excerpt:
Dr Farah Jameel, of the British Medical Association (BMA), said the timeline needed a "hard reset".