The following information has been provided by NHS England.
care.data update
I am sure that you will have seen the media coverage about NHS plans to share patient information to improve healthcare outcomes. During recent weeks NHS England has heard concerns from patients, GPs and others. Having listened carefully to these concerns we accept that the public need more time to learn about information sharing and we have now extended the care.data public awareness campaign until the Autumn.
• We will begin collecting data from GP surgeries in the Autumn, instead of the spring to allow more time to build understanding of the benefits of using the information, what safeguards are in place, and how people can object if they choose to;
• We will work with patients and professional groups – including the BMA, RCGP, Healthwatch and listen to GPs – to develop additional practical steps to promote awareness with patients and the public, and ensure information is accessible and reaches all sections of the community, including people with disabilities;
• We will look into further measures that could be taken to build public confidence, in particular steps relating to scrutiny of ways in which the information will be used to benefit NHS patients;
We will also work with a small number of GP practices to test the quality of the data. This will be voluntary.
We want to build public confidence in this programme so people fully understand the broad range of benefits throughout health and care services that information sharing can bring.
We will be providing regular updates but if you have any questions please contact us as follows;
Patients should call the dedicated patient information line on 0300 456 3531 the line is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 3pm. A text phone service is also available on 0208 7428620
GP practices can contact the HSCIC Contact Centre, who are acting as a helpline for GPs, by calling 0845 300 6016 or email enquiries@hscic.gov.uk quoting ‘care.data – GP’ in the subject line
General Care.Data enquiries email us at: england.cdoqueries@nhs.net
