Computerised medical records - no security

[eliot]

LooneyTunes said:

I'm assuming that all on here know that you can opt out of the national programme relating to electronic records (the SCR)?

One of the early briefing papers is here: http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/li... - don't think the position has changed much since.

I have no issue with the summary care records system. My mum opted out of it going on about "big brother etc". I'm involved with some aspects of NHS systems and know that the security isn't fool proof, but they have taken reasonable steps in my opinion (Smart cards for instance).
If I'm unconscious in A&E and had an alergy or whatever, the fact they can pull your SCR up can only be a good thing.

[Jasandjules]

eliot said:

If I'm unconscious in A&E and had an alergy or whatever, the fact they can pull your SCR up can only be a good thing.

As far as I am aware, no-one is complaining that Doctors might have access to this information. It is all the other people who might gain access who are the problem.

[LooneyTunes]

eliot said:

LooneyTunes said:

I'm assuming that all on here know that you can opt out of the national programme relating to electronic records (the SCR)?

One of the early briefing papers is here: http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/li... - don't think the position has changed much since.

I have no issue with the summary care records system. My mum opted out of it going on about "big brother etc". I'm involved with some aspects of NHS systems and know that the security isn't fool proof, but they have taken reasonable steps in my opinion (Smart cards for instance).
If I'm unconscious in A&E and had an alergy or whatever, the fact they can pull your SCR up can only be a good thing.

FWIW, my family has a reasonable knowledge of both the NHS and IT security - most of us opted out.

There may be risks associated with paper, but the number of possible attackers and attack vectors are both quite limited. Whereas with electronic systems there is perhaps a greater number of parties who may seek to compromise them. Even major corporations make elementary screw ups with infosec and crypto that expose vulnerabilities... however the current resource constraints affecting NHS programmes don't inspire great confidence.

[elster]

LooneyTunes said:

FWIW, my family has a reasonable knowledge of both the NHS and IT security - most of us opted out.

There may be risks associated with paper, but the number of possible attackers and attack vectors are both quite limited. Whereas with electronic systems there is perhaps a greater number of parties who may seek to compromise them. Even major corporations make elementary screw ups with infosec and crypto that expose vulnerabilities... however the current resource constraints affecting NHS programmes don't inspire great confidence.

I am a big fan of the electronic system, as when I ended up in hospital I nearly ended up dead as no one had my medical records available. Being readily available would have prevented this.

[JonRB]

LooneyTunes said:

I'm assuming that all on here know that you can opt out of the national programme relating to electronic records (the SCR)?

I think I mentioned that when I was talking about the Caldecott Guardian at my local practise actively encouraging patients to opt out.

[BigBob]

The old 'hard-copy' notes had one BIG security advantage. Doctors used to handwrite them and NOBODY could decipher them afterwards



BB