In the current Private Eye, MD (the medical column) was reporting on the problems as he saw it of patients using the NHS Choose and Book. He provides the example of a particular patient and gives the patient's name (who contacted Private Eye), the booking reference number and password.
According to http://www.gloshealthservices.org.uk/chooseandbook/cab/about.htm
"How does Choose and Book work?
If your GP decides that you need to see a specialist, he/she will print out an 'Appointment Request' form, which includes your Unique Booking Reference Number and lists the hospitals or local services available to you.
You will be able to choose from this list and book an appointment by calling your chosen hospital or local service. You can call straight away after seeing your GP or at anytime up to two weeks later, if you want to think more about your choice or preferred appointment date and time.
Your password and reference number
A password will be printed out on a separate sheet of paper and given to you with your Appointment Request. This will be used to make sure your information is kept secure on the computer system. When you call your chosen hospital they will identify you by your password and the reference number on your Appointment Request form."
Well, the problem could clearly have been described without giving away this patient personal information.
MD is a GP and therefore should have known this. It seems that he is more concerned with making political points than respecting the person's confidentiality. Obviously the patient supplied him with the information, but he/the paper should have acted in the informant's interests by not publishing it.
Nice one, Private Eye! You can imagine what they would say about another paper that did this - I think it would be in "Streets of Shame".
Nick Landau
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