Health information - think carefully

Patients to think carefully before allowing their personal health information to be transferred to a national data base.

Summary care records (SCR) are being introduced as part of the NHS Care Records Service so that patients' information can be accessed by NHS staff treating that person anywhere in England.

Paul Nuttall, MEP for the UK Independence Party said: "I do not trust any government department with data, we are all familiar with the numerous instances of vast swathes of information going astray.

"But what is particularly wrong about this scheme is that patients have to opt out instead of choosing to opt in.

"This is totally wrong. The details about the scheme being posted to patients belatedly mentions that those unhappy about joining should contact their GP, primary care trust or go to a website address.

"But people lead increasingly busy lives and it is likely that many will not get round to opting out, even though they do not actually agree with the scheme.

"This is not about giving patients a choice, it is another information grab by the government.

"It is being sold to us as improving the safety ad quality of patient care and we are told that staff wanting to access the records need to 'go through a rigorous approval process'.

"That is just what we need - staff spending even more time ticking boxes and filling in forms instead of getting on with treating patients!

"People would not dream of blithely allowing commercial firms access to their most intimate information.

"So before letting their details be handed over to SCRs they should bear in mind that the future holds the distinct possibility of NHS services being sold off to private firms," said Mr Nuttall.