I would take it to your MP - your local hospital is unlikely to have a
full-blown Electronic Health Record yet (there are problems, and dates
keep shifting), and we are required to do it anyway under "Connecting
for Health" programme, so you are unlikely to get much joy there.
Partly the problem is that the vast majority of information has always
been collected by NHS organisations, so this is not "new processing",
which makes it difficult for individuals to stop it (unless they can
show "substantial" damage or distress). The major difference as I see
it is the availability of the information - which is at once its
strength and its weakness. The point is to assist in patient care, and
get rid of the current situation with paper medical records where you
may be turned away from a clinic, your theatre session cancelled, it the
case notes cannot be found (and that happens more often than anyone
would like).
So an electronic record gets rid of that problem (unless the computer
crashes). But, where you had only one person accessing your health
record at any one time, now you have potentially thousand - OK, with
access levels and passwords, but as the article pointed out, it is only
as secure as the individuals who are using it. If they start sharing
passwords, or writing them down, then your health record becomes very
vulnerable to inappropriate access, never mind the potential hackers.
Also, what if the Government decides that you will not get health
treatment if you are an illegal immigrant, terrorist suspect, union
member, haven't paid your Road Tax?
Anne
Anne Gadsden AHRIM
Information Governance Officer
Information Services Department
North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Cumberland Infirmary
Carlisle CA2 7HY
01228 814539 (direct line)
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>>> Tim Trent <[log in to unmask]> 14/07/2006 10:58
>>>
I don't dispute that websites have them (probably) and that yours does
(certainly), but I have never been asked about my medical records and
any
integration with other Orwellian 1984 inspired services.
I have no idea how to make my voice heard though.
Perhaps I should complain about my local NHS trust that the must de
facto be
processing data unfairly? Or will we need 1,600 + complaints before it
is
treated as important enough to enforce about?
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anne Gadsden
Sent: 14 July 2006 10:53
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Debate over Patient Consent for
Electronic
Records
Tim, we do happen to have a DPA Fair Processing notice on our NHS
Trust
website
http://www.ncumbria.nhs.uk/acute/patientsandvisitors/your_information.aspx
However, in my personal capacity I too feel uncomfortable with the
Electronic Patient Record, particularly as the Government is also
introducing Electronic Staff Files for the NHS, at the same time as
pushing
for National ID cards, various new data bases and "joined up services"
sharing information.
It worries me, and I would like to see the public getting more involved
in
asking the questions, particularly as these systems are very expensive,
and
the potential for any Government to abuse this wealth of information
is
there.
Anne
Anne Gadsden AHRIM
Information Governance Officer
Information Services Department
North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Cumberland Infirmary
Carlisle CA2 7HY
01228 814539 (direct line)
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>>> Tim Trent <[log in to unmask]> 14/07/2006 09:52
>>>
I have never, ever, seen a Fair Processing Notice from the NHS. I had
no
idea this was happening without my express consent. I do see the
benefits,
BUT see also:
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/Article.aspx?liArticleID=216882&liFla
vourID=1
I also see grave dangers.
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tinsley, Chris
Sent: 14 July 2006 09:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Debate over Patient Consent for
Electronic
Records
This is a case of if the law makes work a bit harder and slightly
inconvenient we won't bother to follow it, after all think of the
benefits.
Chris Tinsley
Wiltshire County Council
Tel:01225 713644
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Landau
Sent: 13 July 2006 20:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [data-protection] Debate over Patient Consent for Electronic
Records
Quote from [log in to unmask]
>> Debate over Patient Consent for Electronic Records
The current policy of loading patients' medical records onto national
electronic records systems unless they request otherwise is likely to
remain
in place, despite condemnation from doctors.
> http://www.informatics.nhs.uk/item/1909
Nick Landau
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