16th December 2014
GP practices taking part in the pilot of NHS England’s patient record sharing scheme, care.data, will not be signed up until 2015 despite the body’s previous claims. A new report on the scheme includes evidence from NHS England’s director for patients and information, and lead of care.data; Tim Kelsey said postponing the scheme in February last year had been done to avoid it become a ‘crisis in public trust’. On the back of the report the body concluded that the sign-up process would not be finalised until after the New Year.
The scheme came to national attention earlier this year when one GP had had his contract threatened by NHS England over his plans to opt his patients out of the scheme. Profession seniors considered his actions a breach of NHS protocol, requiring the automatic inclusion of all patients unless they explicitly ask to opt out. The GP in question - Dr Gordon Gancz of King Edward Street Surgery, Oxford - must now comply with NHS England’s demands or potentially face having his contract terminated. It is noted that while doctors have a duty of transparency regarding patient care and the changes the scheme will bring, they must also share their data with the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) under the Health and Social Care Act.
Many rallied behind Dr Gancz to express their concern over the roll-out. The all-party parliamentary group for Patient and Public involvement in Health and Social Care’s care.data inquiry report criticised NHS England for ‘inadequate’ public consultation on the scheme’s initial implementation; the biggest factor in its delay. The ‘lack of publicity, clarity and patient involvement’ saw Mr Kelsey submit evidence that “the care.data programme was stopped in the spring due to safeguarding issues...a policy of adopting caution and complete transparency is in place.” The report concluded that “there has been a lack of clarity around...how the data will be used, who the data will be used by and what implications it has for end of life care. It was felt by many that the benefit outlined...would only be met if strict confidentiality protocols are maintained and that such programme is sufficiently explained.”
While it is very much public news that some GP practices have been invited to participate, the NHS remain guarded on confirming sign-ups this side of the New Year. Care.data programme director Eve Roodhouse acknowledges that “we have more to do to communicate with the public about the programme and are fully committed to addressing the concerns raised, which is why we have established the pathfinder stage.”