The EMISNUG are concerned about the extent of patient identifiable data planned in the careuk.data extract mandated from the Health and Social Care Information Centre via the General Practice Extraction Service.
As a group promoting good practice in the use of IT we are concerned that the data set is patient identifiable and will greatly exceed that required for the stated purposes, whilst giving no option for patients to opt out. We are also concerned that the proposed extract with identifiable patient details poses a risk to our patients and does not make use of industry standard methods available to link data without patient identification (pseudonymisation).
We are keen to avoid a situation where users might be in breach of the Data Protection Act. We are pleased to hear extractions will not now start on April 1st but are still actively seeking clarification for our members and our patients.
Chris Frith
Chair
UPDATE: NHS England has now accepted the right of patients to opt out. Please see updated statementÂ