Opting Out from DWP GP Searches

Hi

Regarding your newsletter today, and the means for stopping DWP from accessing my medical data held.by my GP:

I have downloaded the letter which contains the following:

This includes adding the ‘Dissent from secondary use of GP patient identifiable data’ code (Read v2: 9Nu0 or CTV3: XaZ89) to my record as well as the ‘Dissent from disclosure of personal confidential data by Health and Social Care Information Centre’ code (Read v2: 9Nu4 or CTV3: XaaVL).

Do these two objection codes cover an objection to whatever the DWP wants to have? I rang my surgery after I read your bulletin but they hadn't a clue what I was going on about - neither reception nor the practice manager,

They even started questioning me in a fashion which reflects our degraded public culture, ie: why do you want to opt out? What do you have to hide?

Could you please advise whether the letter with the above para is all I need to hand in, or whether there is something else I need to do vis-a-vis the DWP?

Thank you

A

Hi,

I too contacted my GP in regards to the opt out data.
Actually I emailed them with the codes etc as stated how and what to do, and they rang me back as they had never heard of the codes or anything to do with what I asked for.
They did discuss an opt out/in version they deal with but I was not sure if it was the same thing.
However I emailed them the info and codes etc again and they will look into it.

Augustus, as I understand it, this deals with the 'care.data' only. I don't know what other information GPs have to submit to DWP, if anything.

I don't understand why it would be problem the DWP seeing your GP records, would it not be helpful?

Also, have you heard about "patient summary care records"? It's kind of similar; anybody who is registered with a GP will automatically have their medical records uploaded to a central database which can be accessed by any medical professional within the UK in addition to pharmacists and charitable organisations. Again, one has to opt out of this, otherwise you are in - like it or not. Similarly, they too (under this scheme) apparently sell patients confidential medical information to business organisations - whether you like it or not - unless you bother to opt out. Also, once your records have been uploaded to the central database - opting out is too late - as your records will have effectively gone viral (within the confides of the system).

I too would like to opt out of these schemes (whole family), however, is it worth the hassle considering the suspicious reaction is is likely to result in. I think the term "big brother" comes to mind. Conundrum - do you take it lying down or do you put your head above the parapet?

Buster