I find this interesting.

I have not consented that my medical record be used for this purpose,
specifically I do not wish it to be used:

"FAQ sheet C: Patient Data
17. What information will be collected for each patient when drawing
the survey sample?
For both the Apollo and Exeter routes, Patient Name, Address, and NHS number
will
be extracted. These details are needed so Ipsos MORI can contact each
patient
included in the survey; the NHS number provides a unique reference code
needed to
administer the survey (e.g. to remove duplicates, remove deceased patients,
etc).
No clinical or health information will be included in the data extracted.
For the Exeter sample, gender and date of birth will also be extracted. This
will be
used for data analysis and looking at non-response bias (for example,
whether
certain types of people are more or less likely to respond to the survey)."

Apologies for line endings, I copied this from
http://www.primarycarecontracting.nhs.uk/uploads/pes/november_06/gpps_faqs_3
rd_nov.pdf 

Since I have not consented I believe this to be unfair processing.
Opinions, anyone?

-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Landau
Sent: 12 November 2006 13:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [data-protection] Data fears don't stop survey (news story Health
Service Journal 9.11.06)

There is a story in this week's Health Service Journal online headed "Data
fears don't stop survey"

"The Department of Health is pushing ahead with a massive GP patient
experience survey despite fears over data protection issues and dissent from
the British Medical Association.

The DoH has commissioned polling giants Ipsos MORI to conduct the GP patient
survey, which aims to question 5 million patients on their experience of
visiting the doctor."

http://www.hsj.co.uk/healthservicejournal (you have to register to read the
document but I think that anyone can register - I am not copying the whole
article for copyright reasons)

For details of the survey see:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/LettersAndCirculars/DearColle
agueLetters/DearColleagueLettersArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4140082&chk=ASIu0b

 or http://preview.tinyurl.com/uq7u3 (gives a preview of the URL - so better
for protecting one's computer).

The website of the LMC http://www.lmc.org.uk/news/general.html (the Local
Medical Committee (LMC) is recognised by successive NHS Acts as the
statutory professional organisation elected to represent all GPs to Primary
Care Trusts (PCTs).) contains the following message from the GPC (General
Practitioner Committee):

"Patient Experience Survey - urgent message for all practices from the GPC

Details of the Patient Experience Survey (PES), now named "The GP patient
survey - your doctor, your experience, your say", will be sent to practices
and PCTs by the Department of Health on Monday 16th October.

The patient survey is designed to assess achievement by practices in the
improved access Directed Enhanced Service by asking random samples of
patients about their recent access experiences in each participating
practice.

Participating practices that use Apollo Medical Systems software to send
data to their PCT for QOF purposes will be required to download software
from the Apollo website enabling extraction of some patient demographic
details.

However, the questionnaire has not yet been finalised and is still the
subject of some controversy. The GPC will send a 'Focus On PES' to LMCs at
the end of next week. Until then we advise practices not to download the
software, or if they do download it, not to either agree or disagree to the
patient consent prompt that will appear. Once the survey is finalised, the
GPC guidance will clarify any outstanding issues and problems.

For the moment, do not press "Yes" or "No" when Apollo software invites
anyone in the practice to do so."

See this FAQ dated 3.11.06
http://www.primarycarecontracting.nhs.uk/uploads/pes/november_06/gpps_faqs_3
rd_nov.pdf

and http://www.primarycarecontracting.nhs.uk/3.php

I don't have any personal knowledge of this although I have NHS experience -
I just read about it in Health Service Journal.

Nick Landau 

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Any queries about sending or receiving message please send to the list owner
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