The NHS in England is to start collecting information on patient care from GPs in a bid to get a better picture of disease and treatment patterns. Leaflets entitled “Better Information Means Better Care” will be sent out to all 26.5 million households in England to explain how the data will be collected and used.
The information will be anonymous so it will not be possible to track it back to individuals however patients will have the right to restrict their information from being used .Anyone who does not want their information to be used can inform their GP, and those who have questions can call an information line on 0300 456 3531.
Households in the North of England will receive their leaflets this week, with the rest of England to follow during January.
The NHS treats millions of people every week, and the data can offer a picture of the illnesses they have, their treatments and experiences. Analysing trends can also help when planning health services in the future at national and local levels.
Dr Geraint Lewis chief data officer at NHS England said: "We want everyone to feel confident that their information is kept private and used in non-identifiable form to improve the quality of health and social care for everyone.
"Equally important is that everyone knows that they have a choice and can raise an objection by simply talking to their GP."
Dr Tony Calland, Chairman of the British Medical Association's medical ethics committee, welcomed the leaflet campaign.
"The BMA is extremely pleased that NHS England is raising awareness about changes to the way patient data is handled in the NHS," he said. "It is vital that people are fully informed about what their data will be used for and how they can object to its use if they wish to."
Dr Imran Rafi, of the Royal College of GPs, added: "It is important that patients understand how the NHS uses and shares their information, and that they feel they have been given a proper choice to participate. The spin-off is the potential for all NHS patients to benefit.”
