MEP warns of NHS data snatch

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Local MEP Paul Nuttall has renewed a warning over an NHS scheme to grab patients’ information.

The care data project, which is being rolled out this Spring, involves NHS England harvesting medical records from GP practices.

“When I first warned about this last September it was not intended that patients should be personally notified about the plan - which they are automatically included in unless they specifically opt out - but following a backlash the NHS agreed to send out information to them.

“However, this has taken the form of a leaflet, not in an addressed envelope, which many people will have discarded as unsolicited junk mail without reading it,” said Mr Nuttall, UKIP deputy leader.

“The information to be taken does not include names but it does include date of birth and NHS number so it cannot properly be described as anonymous.

"We all know how notorious government computer schemes are, they always cost far more than anticipated and how can we be sure what will eventually happen to this information.

“It is being done under the guise of helping provide better care but who is to say it won’t be sold to bodies such as insurance firms or private health companies and how safe will it be from hackers?

“If it is all so essential and wonderful why hasn’t there been a national advertising campaign? This is being done sneakily and I want to highlight the situation so as many people as possible are aware of what is going on.

“If they are quite happy to share their information, that is absolutely fine, but it is wrong that it may just pass patients by without them realising what is happening,” said Mr Nuttall.