Keep our files private

Published: 28 May, 2010

• THE proposal by the NHS to remove or copy patients’ private medical records to compile the largest countrywide database, which could be accessed by anyone working in the NHS unless patients actually go to the trouble of opting out, is an infringement of people’s human rights (Who will see records? May 21).

The letter and booklet sent to every registered patient in the UK must have cost a fortune to print and post, yet no form and stamped-addressed-envelope were included. The booklet stated you could print a copy from their website or telephone and they would send a copy. This was an obvious ploy to make it more difficult for patients who wanted to opt out of their wonderful scheme. 

I discovered by accident (when returning my completed opt-out form) that in fact my GP had printed copies for his patients to be able to obtain them more easily, but as there was no instruction that this should be done in the booklet released by the NHS not all GPs have done this and few patients know they can collect one. 

Many GPs have objected on grounds of loss of doctor-patient trust. Consultants and medical organisations are also concerned about the loss of privacy and security issues which could become involved if such a database was to go ahead.

This does not take into account the ultimate use the NHS unelected quangos could make of this Orwellian collection of medical information covering age, gender, cost of medication and types of illness.

This could lead to rationing of NHS facilities by postcodes or pressuring GPs to cut the time of surgery visits as an illness has no cure.
We all agree the NHS needs to be efficiently run and good value for money.

However, I do not believe anyone will shed a tear at this week’s resignation of the head of NHS London as he feels he cannot work with the new government if it does not allow him to continue closing hospitals and A&E and maternity units.

The majority of patients are aware of the easiest way of saving money: close the unelected quangos and sack their overpaid managers, who have spent years making life hell for everyone who works within the medical profession in any capacity.

Is there a human rights lawyer out there who will challenge whether the NHS has the right to insist people opt out rather than opt in when it affects personal records and infringes people’s human rights to privacy?
I always understood that GPs have no right to pass patients’ information to a third party without our written consent. Therefore, if patients do not fill in a form their data should not be passed over to NHS London? 
HELEN CAGNONI
EC1