Private health firms could be given access to anonymous NHS patient records & data - Page 6

Sirius · 04-12-2011, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

Yeh, but think of the plus side. it might mean they don't put 1p on a litre of fuel, and the cost of fags only go up by 20p and not 30p

Fags can go up for all i care, Nicotine is not a drug i am addicted to.

As for fuel if you think they will use this money should they get it to stop a fuel tax rise then your in cloud cuckoo land Gary.

mertle · 05-12-2011, 09:54

So for those who felt we was too paranoid the data provided will include wait for it your Postcode's. Why because they want to give you loads JUNK MAIL.

It been proved its smokescreen why would need postcode if it anominious data they want for research & development. Clearly its likely will be past on with ambulance chasers, targeted junk mail.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16026827

Quote:

However, Patient Concern said it had real concerns about the proposals because the information would include postcodes and age profiles which would be possible to trace back to the individuals concerned.

**Chris** · 05-12-2011, 10:00

Mertle, you cannot deliver anything to a house by postcode alone. Your postcode is also your neighbour's postcode. You share your postcode with, IIRC, at least a dozen other houses.

Will you please get off your paranoid, Tory-hating hobby horse and debate the facts.

**Hugh** · 05-12-2011, 10:00

erm, health (and many other) demographics are usually by postcode - socially and economically deprived areas usually have worse health trends and outcomes, and these are identified by postcode. This helps focus on the areas most in need.

LASOS SNS

Julian · 05-12-2011, 11:05

As I posted earlier I don't have any problem with this.

If the worst case scenario for healthcare to improve quicker is me having to chuck a few f's at a twonk on the phone then the sport would be worth it.

Anyway wouldn't this be covered by TPS registration?

Ravenheart · 06-12-2011, 06:16

I thought I'd hang fire commenting on this until I'd read more on actually what was being suggested.

What the government is suggesting isn't really anything new, I've been involved in similar information sharing for around 18 years and I'm sure others are too, but I must express that this was with my own consent to each of them, which I think is the important part of all this.

my first involvement was around 16 years ago aged 29, when I consented to having some of the bone removed during my hip replacement for research, into the effects of RA on joints. I consented, as I'm always keen to improve medical knowledge so that in the future these sort of things will be better understood. I've donated other bone samples since during various other bionic upgrades and I'm currently involved in a study into the effects of long term inflammation and the increased risk of cardio vascular disease and stroke, which is being done with the various rheumatology units across the UK and Europe and the University of Manchester.

I feel that the most important thing in all this is that being involved in any kind of medical research is on an opt in basis and this consent is given by the patient for each research project, and not a universal opt in.

Peter_ · 06-12-2011, 06:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

So they've got your post code and age, even over a few addressess it's childs play to find each individual and target product at them. For more remote houses they often have a unique postcode.

Which is a lie, given the amount of data proposed for release, it IS quite possible.

I initially thought this might be a good idea but the more I think about the lack of safeguards I'm becoming quite anti.

Exactly my concerns and reason enough to opt out as with this information it will be possible to be targeted by these companies and it should be opt in not opt out.

If believe the case to be any different then you must be deluded to think this will not happen as once they pay for the information they will be able to do whatever they want with it.

Do you really want unwanted advertising texts and phonecalls and possibly even spam emails in your inbox from these firms because I for one do not want that as it will be an invasion of my privacy.

Nothing will persuade me this is a good thing, back in the day when we had paper driving licences the DVLA used to put organ donation sections onto the licence which were removable and I removed them every time, oddly even these were removed after a few years as it was an invasion of privacy.

Ignitionnet · 06-12-2011, 09:00

I take it the thought of just why a life sciences company would risk continued access to this information by working to de-anonymise the data then spamming some residences of private individuals whom they can't engage directly regarding prescription drugs hasn't occurred?

Stuart · 06-12-2011, 09:38

Personally, I don't see a problem as long as the information is anonymised. It sounds like this is formalising something that actually already goes on in the various university hospitals. It's also something that, whether you are aware of it or not, may have saved your life.

The NHS has worked with outside medical companies for a long time to develop and refine treatments, drugs and medicines. Part of this is sharing patient data. They have to. Without patient data, the companies have no way of knowing if their treatment is working.

Not only does it help to develop new treatments, but the companies do pay for the results.

I will admit to a slight bias here, as my sister's life was saved because the hospital used a then experimental procedure, the bulk of the cost of which was paid by the company that supplied the equipment used during the procedure (they needed to see how well it performed in a real life situation).

**Chris** · 06-12-2011, 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

I take it the thought of just why a life sciences company would risk continued access to this information by working to de-anonymise the data then spamming some residences of private individuals whom they can't engage directly regarding prescription drugs hasn't occurred?

"Thought" has played little part in this thread so far. Tory-bashing paranoia is much more fun, apparently.

denphone · 06-12-2011, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

"Thought" has played little part in this thread so far. Tory-bashing paranoia is much more fun, apparently.

l have never at any attempt made one Tory bashing comment in this thread and nor have some others Chris so its a bit OTT to throw that accusation around.

Peter_ · 06-12-2011, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

"Thought" has played little part in this thread so far. Tory-bashing paranoia is much more fun, apparently.

Not bashing anyone I would not trust any government who chose to allow this to happen.

Stuart · 06-12-2011, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

l have never at any attempt made one Tory bashing comment in this thread and nor have some others Chris so its a bit OTT to throw that accusation around.

However, some people have assumed that their details will simply be sold on to an insurance company or lawyer rather than the stated aim, which is actually more profitable (hence more logical) as it could result in earning a lot of money from the sale of treatments. The example I gave of my sister. The hospital could have made some money selling her details to an insurance company or lawyer. They could (and did) make a lot more money by developing a new treatment in conjuction with the company who provided the equipment required and may well own patents on that treatment (which would ensure ongoing profits).

**Chris** · 06-12-2011, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masque

Not bashing anyone I would not trust any government who chose to allow this to happen.

Ah, but allow *what* to happen, exactly? Most of the speculation in this thread has been about the prospect of lawyers junk-mailing sick people on the basis of data bought from the NHS. Something that simply was not part of the announcement made by the Coalition.

It's not surprising of course, the thread was started by a member of this forum who seems to spend rather a lot of time scouring the internet for stories that back up his prejudices (or, if read with eyes half shut, could be made to back up his prejudices), which really rather got it off on the wrong footing.

Peter_ · 06-12-2011, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Ah, but allow *what* to happen, exactly? Most of the speculation in this thread has been about the prospect of lawyers junk-mailing sick people on the basis of data bought from the NHS. Something that simply was not part of the announcement made by the Coalition.

It's not surprising of course, the thread was started by a member of this forum who seems to spend rather a lot of time scouring the internet for stories that back up his prejudices (or, if read with eyes half shut, could be made to back up his prejudices), which really rather got it off on the wrong footing.

I had already seen this on the early morning news on the day the thread was originally posted so had already formed my opinion well before he started this thread, and as I say it is personal choice and I do not trust any company that wants my private details without asking my express permission first, not that it matters as I would still refuse them access.