How do you opt out of the NHS Database?

[condor]

As in the thread title.
Read about the NHS database for the first time in the Mail on Sunday today...I appreciate they have a tendency to exaggurate but what is the info surrounding this?

[hi-de-hi]

I understand all you need to do is write to your GP stating you do not wish your medical details to be included on the database...was told this by a GP colleague!!

[condor]

How does Joe public even know there is an NHS database? fist thing I knew about it was in the paper today - as already mentioned.

[Jasandjules]

It's been in the press rather a lot.
But as above, my understanding is you write to your GP and say don't put me on the database please.

[mrsxllifts]

Is there a reason why you want want to opt out of it? Not a trick question, been at work and not heard anything about it.

[warmfuzzies]

Well if like me you recieve a letter from your local NHS saying ever-so-politely, Sorry Mr 964 but we lost all your details, and there is the ever-so-slight chance that they went by way of the laptop that is also missing..You might just want to think about opting out......

Kevin.

[hornet]

If they can't keep your details secure if you're opted in, what odds they bugger up the opt-out and include you anyway?

[Albert75]

Write to either your GP or the practice manager, and ask to opt out of 'The Spine'. In the letter, mention that you want your records Read coded 93C3. All conditions are give a Read code that enables the practice and/or primary care trust to search for a specific condition. For example, if you have essential hypertension, you will be given a Read Code of G20. Having code 93C3 on your medical file will indicate that you have refused permission to have your details uploaded onto the spine.

[mrsxllifts]

warmfuzzies said:

Well if like me you recieve a letter from your local NHS saying ever-so-politely, Sorry Mr 964 but we lost all your details, and there is the ever-so-slight chance that they went by way of the laptop that is also missing..You might just want to think about opting out......

Kevin.

Is this any different to them losing the hard copies in the surgery? My old surgery lost all my notes twice before I told them to stick it. I was told they were 'somewhere in the system' as if that narrows it down to their location.

[elster]

warmfuzzies said:

Well if like me you recieve a letter from your local NHS saying ever-so-politely, Sorry Mr 964 but we lost all your details, and there is the ever-so-slight chance that they went by way of the laptop that is also missing..You might just want to think about opting out......

Kevin.

But surely as they lost all your records as they went onto someones laptop. Then it is a better idea to have the database. So they cant be lost.

[King Herald]

Albert75 said:

Write to either your GP or the practice manager, and ask to opt out of 'The Spine'. In the letter, mention that you want your records Read coded 93C3. All conditions are give a Read code that enables the practice and/or primary care trust to search for a specific condition. For example, if you have essential hypertension, you will be given a Read Code of G20. Having code 93C3 on your medical file will indicate that you have refused permission to have your details uploaded onto the spine.

And when you're found unconscious after a car wreck, identified only by your wallet, they will have no access to any important info about you, such as allergies or whatever other important medical stuff they might need.

Of course, if you have nothing of importance to record you stand to lose nothing.

[Shellshine]

I'm assuming that someone has to trawl through the paperwork and apply the appropriate codes manually - here's hoping that whoever does the coding doesn't get a digit or letter wrong!! I don't mind my medical info being available but the coding system concerns me somewhat,,,

[mrsxllifts]

King Herald said:

Albert75 said:

Write to either your GP or the practice manager, and ask to opt out of 'The Spine'. In the letter, mention that you want your records Read coded 93C3. All conditions are give a Read code that enables the practice and/or primary care trust to search for a specific condition. For example, if you have essential hypertension, you will be given a Read Code of G20. Having code 93C3 on your medical file will indicate that you have refused permission to have your details uploaded onto the spine.

And when you're found unconscious after a car wreck, identified only by your wallet, they will have no access to any important info about you, such as allergies or whatever other important medical stuff they might need.

Of course, if you have nothing of importance to record you stand to lose nothing.

I wondered about this. I have a heart defect and should I loose my meditag during an accident/incident/whatever, them being able to drag up my records on a screen rather than waiting for them to come from my GP could be the difference between life and death.

[Busa_Rush]

Dogtags, details etched into small tags. Cheap, available where ever you are and readable by anybody who speaks english or a variation of. No computers, no security risk etc. Simples

[Albert75]

Is that a common problem now? If you were found in a critical condition in a car crash, the paramedics/doctors on scene would be checking and stabilising your vitals, not seeing if you were treated for chlamydia when you were 16 on a laptop. On the other hand if you were, for example, worried about the amount you drinking, and you wanted to speak to your doctor about it, would you be comfortable that that information could come back via another government agency to haunt you 15 years down the line in a family court? I know what I would rather, and have made my choices - if people want to trust this or any government with what is said in private conversation then I have no issue with that. If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to worry argument cannot work in this instance.

[elster]

Busa_Rush said:

Dogtags, details etched into small tags. Cheap, available where ever you are and readable by anybody who speaks english or a variation of. No computers, no security risk etc. Simples

I don't think you could fit my medical details on a dog tag.

I would need a suit of armour.

[Parrot of Doom]

Albert75 said:

On the other hand if you were, for example, worried about the amount you drinking, and you wanted to speak to your doctor about it, would you be comfortable that that information could come back via another government agency to haunt you 15 years down the line in a family court?

I would have thought that would be a breach of doctor-patient confidentiality.

Edited by Parrot of Doom on Sunday 5th April 20:15

[dave_s13]

Many primary care trusts and gps are moving over to electronic records. We have just started using systmone and it makes life much easier.

The keepers of 'the spine' will not lose anyones info on a the trip home. It's just not possible.

The benefit of a shared record far outweighs any perceived risks you have regarding your data. Stop being so paranoid!

[Albert75]

dave_s13 said:

Many primary care trusts and gps are moving over to electronic records. We have just started using systmone and it makes life much easier.

The keepers of 'the spine' will not lose anyones info on a the trip home. It's just not possible.

The benefit of a shared record far outweighs any perceived risks you have regarding your data. Stop being so paranoid!

I just wanted to add my opinion. It is not being paranoid. It's odd - I have lurked for 4 months before posting, and time and time again, people have tried to add to a debate, only to be dismissed. What is discussed between a patient and their GP has to be guaranteed that it will stay confidential. The NHS's new computer system has been beset with delays, security breeches and resentment from front line staff. The current system is so slow and full of glitches, that the promises of security are broken time and time again, every day, in every hospital across the land. ID cards are left in, for example, to avoid the time delay in switching users - some Trusts actually advocated this practice. As the drive to connect all the departments across Whitehall increases, more and more people will have access to different systems. As for it is just not possible to lose data from the spine on the way home, that maybe so, but the promised 'unbreakable security envelops' that will ensure confidentiality of the data on the spine still aren't anywhere near ready is just one of the current issues besetting it. I don't worry about CCTV or logging if I travel abroad etc - it's all sold to us under the threat of terrorism, but what goes on between my GP and me is our business, and has no place on a system that 1 in 60 people in country can access.

[dave_s13]

Albert75 said:

dave_s13 said:

Many primary care trusts and gps are moving over to electronic records. We have just started using systmone and it makes life much easier.

The keepers of 'the spine' will not lose anyones info on a the trip home. It's just not possible.

The benefit of a shared record far outweighs any perceived risks you have regarding your data. Stop being so paranoid!

I just wanted to add my opinion. It is not being paranoid. It's odd - I have lurked for 4 months before posting, and time and time again, people have tried to add to a debate, only to be dismissed. What is discussed between a patient and their GP has to be guaranteed that it will stay confidential. The NHS's new computer system has been beset with delays, security breeches and resentment from front line staff. The current system is so slow and full of glitches, that the promises of security are broken time and time again, every day, in every hospital across the land. ID cards are left in, for example, to avoid the time delay in switching users - some Trusts actually advocated this practice. As the drive to connect all the departments across Whitehall increases, more and more people will have access to different systems. As for it is just not possible to lose data from the spine on the way home, that maybe so, but the promised 'unbreakable security envelops' that will ensure confidentiality of the data on the spine still aren't anywhere near ready is just one of the current issues besetting it. I don't worry about CCTV or logging if I travel abroad etc - it's all sold to us under the threat of terrorism, but what goes on between my GP and me is our business, and has no place on a system that 1 in 60 people in country can access.

Your GP record is entirely private unless your GP deems it necessary to share certain parts of it to other healthcare professionals.

My ID card logs me on to the system as "me". Anything entered into a pt record is then my personal responsibility. There is no way on earth I would leave my card unattended and let other folk do anything. I could potentially end up struck off, or worse.

You are taking an opposing view, and that's healthy. I personally have no problem at all, in the slightest, with my, my new baby daughters or wifes record being electronic. It has a long way to go before it's perfect but from my experience of actually using it I can tell you that it benefits my work immensely, I now have more time to do a better job, it has not meant we see more patients. I work in community by the way, front line and all that.