Nurses for Reform Blog

As the NHS electronic patient record system starts to be rolled out, here is yet another story of the disastrous management of patient information by the NHS.  Granted the system has been suspended for the time being, but don’t let this fool you, it will be back.

Regular readers of this blog will know that I, and others, have been warning against these systems for many years.

I would urge all UK readers of this blog to head to this website, download the opt-out form, complete it and take it to your GP.  I am also going to ask for written confirmation that my request has been adhered to.  It’s not that I don’t trust them, but…

This report from the BBC shows that yet more of our personal information is being lost my government agencies.  It really gives you confidence that information kept in electronic patient records will be safe doesn’t it?

 To read my views on EPRs please do have a look at this paper.

This story in today’s Daily Mail concerning a U-turn on electronic patient records is another piece of spin from the government. For while patients will now be able to view and amend their electronic records they will only have a limited say in how their personal information is – or is not – shared with professionals across the NHS.Away from the all the weasel words the government is still on track to holding vast amounts of data on citizens and making it available to a host of government departments across Whitehall.

I don’t mind electronic patient records in the private sector – providing no one in government can access them. But I do mind such a scheme in the state sector.

Just as Richard Thomas, the government’s information commissioner, is warning that Britain is sleep walking into a surveillance state I note this article on electronic patient records in the Guardian  It states:

“Millions of personal medical records are to be uploaded regardless of  patients’ wishes to a central national  database from where information can be made available to police and security services, the Guardian has learned.”

This is no surprise. Having previously written this  back in 2001, I have long feared what the Guardian is now alluding to.

Mark my words, electronic patients records in the hands of “joined up government” really will turn out to be a nightmare.