The "secure" NHS database, open for thousands to read

Given the Government's appalling record of data loss, leaks and IT incompetence, it is understandable that large numbers of people are suspicious of the NHS database. The latest news on the project is hardly reassuring, either. It turns out we won't have to rely on incompetence or human error to open the database to fraudsters, thieves and nosey parkers; the Government are planning to allow thousands of researchers access to our private medical records over and above the hundreds of thousands of existing NHS staff.

Not only does it open the door to even more scope for fraud - after all, the database will be a honeypot for anyone wanting to commit identity theft -  but it constitutes a serious breach of privacy and a threat to the public's confidence in patient confidentiality even if the system is only used properly.

Can you imagine going to the doctor (should you be able to get an appointment) with an embarassing condition, or an illness you wanted for whatever reason to keep private and secret even from your family, only to get a letter out of the blue from a total stranger who is acquainted with your medical records and wants you to take part in a trial? If you had a disease or accident earlier in your life and don't want your current partner or your kids to find out, or don't want the memories raked up again, this could be devastating.

There are huge problems getting people who are genuinely ill, particularly from sexually transmitted infections and conditions like testicular cancer, to go to doctors already. If they are then allowed to share that information without your permission, that is likely to put people off even more.

This is a lose-lose for patients and taxpayers. The scheme is already way over budget and behind time, with questions being asked about whether it will ever work, and even if it is delivered people will be faced with the prospect of fraud or prying researchers reading your files without your permission. How much would you pay for the privilege of having someone read your medical records behind your back? The current answer is £12.4 billion - and rising.

Comments

[Hardeep_Singh]

This pathetic little project along with the equivalent cluster of similiar ones elsewhere within the public sector is straight out of Chairman Mao's mindset. They are extremely costly not just in terms of money but also man hours, disruption to existing NHS services and time.

Anyone with an small amount of IT experience can see this is a dead donkey at the very best. Yet thanks to Labour's blind approach to spending and shall we say 'one way communication traffic' it will be continously pushed as more and more money is squandered. Why on earth couldn't we have just bought something of the shelf or given entire contract to an IT firm rather than the mosiac of freeloaders that await the next government contract. Coupled with the representives on behalf of the public purse we have a project manned by the all to usual suspects..... The best this project can deliver will be media news stories.

How many people have to die this time for political egos to be fed ...? And die they most certainly will, there can be no respect when politics oversteps the mark by this degree. They are criminals, after all a restaurant owner that fails to maintain his kitchen's in order which result in someone grave illness or even death would be prosecuted in an instance so why are deaths acceptable at a national scale when the Labour's hand is involved?

[Paula]

Would it be possible for us to ask for our medical records to take home? After all this is the only way we will know that they are safe. We would then have to demand that records held on the computer are deleted. Do we have this right? We have the right to view our records - they are ours after all - but would we have the right to hold these records ourselves? I need to find out about this as it would be preferable to knowing that the government and any other Tom, Dick and Harry had access to them for whatever reasons.

I find this whole thing appalling and I object to the level of spying and prying in this country.