UK NHS medical records will be shared with private companies unless you opt out

care-data.info

17 points·buro9··4 comments

Thank you for the submission, I hadn't seen this yet. I absolutely love how the original brochure (which is also linked on that website) tells you (always in bold) that nothing needs to be done if sharing is alright, yet they don't give you a direct way to opt-out, no form and all it says is "talk to your GP practice". This leaves a really funny aftertaste, because it suggests that, really, you shouldn't be opting out, according to the people who think it is actually a good idea to share identifiable medical data...

Different GP practices will have different methods for opting out.

I'm generally in favour of this, but i wish it had been linked to some kind of "must publish" rule. Firms can use the data but they must publish any research.

I am a bit worried about the netflix effect - deanonymization of data.

It's also frustrating that this is easy to make opt out, but MPs refuse to make organ donation opt out.

The leaflet: "Details that could identify you will be removed before your information is made available to others, such as those planning NHS services and approved researchers"

The OP: "can and will be released in an indentifiable form to organisations"

Can anyone with more knowledge about this shed any light on the seeming inconsistency?

The OP is a GP herself who is disclosing the full information and detail whilst additionally providing an FAQ answering such questions.

I would trust the advice of the GP and medical profession over the marketing leaflet from the government.

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