NHS Digital Plans for Sharing Patient Data with Third Parties for Medical Research Purposes.
As patients may have heard and read NHS Digital plan to share patient data for medical research purposes. This is not to be confused with patient data that is currently shared with hospitals and NHS services to enable essential care can be given to patients.
There are three ways for you to opt out:
- Via the ‘Your Health’ section of the NHS APP
- Calling 0300 303 5678
- Via https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters
Opting out
If you don’t want your identifiable patient data to be shared for purposes except for your own care, you can opt-out by registering a Type 1 Opt-out or a National Data Opt-out, or both. These opt-outs are different and they are explained in more detail below. Your individual care will not be affected if you opt-out using either option.
Type 1 Opt-out (opting out of NHS Digital collecting your data)
Data will not be collected from GP practices if patients have registered a Type 1 Opt-out.
This collection will start on 1 July 2021 so if you do not want your data to be shared with NHS Digital please register your Type 1 Opt-out by 23 June 2021.
If you register a Type 1 Opt-out after this collection has started, no more of your data will be shared with us. We will however still hold the patient data which was shared with us before you registered the Type 1 Opt-out.
If you do not want NHS Digital to share your identifiable patient data with anyone else for purposes beyond your own care, then you can also register a National Data Opt-out.
THIS IS NOT A PRACTICE DICISION TO SHARE YOUR DATA. IT IS NHS DIGITAL WHO HOLD YOUR RECORDS, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE APPROVED THIS DATA SHARING. PLEASE LOBBY YOUR MP IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
