NHS Digital Data Sharing 10th June 2021

Posted on June 10th, 2021

NHS Digital are about to legally enact GP data for planning and research (GPDPR), a daily extraction of complete GP patient records from GP practice systems into their national dataset for the purposes of planning and research.  All records for those over 13 years old are included going back over 10 years.  The information excludes patient names and NHS Digital will pseudonymise it.  However, NHS Digital will become the data controllers for this information and will decide how it is shared and with whom: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-collections-and-data-sets/data-collections/general-practice-data-for-planning-and-research

GP practices are obliged to enable this information sharing and cannot affect in any way what is shared from our systems or how it is used once it is transferred to NHS Digital.  Should you NOT wish your or your dependents’ patient information to be shared in this way, you can opt out by completing and returning this Type 1 Opt-out form to the practice: Type1Opt-outform

You must do this before 30th August 2021 as the first data extraction is scheduled for 1^st September 2021.  You can opt out after this time but this will only prevent future extractions.  You can also and separately complete an online National Data Opt-out for the onward sharing of your hospital data by NHS Digital, but this does not prevent the extraction of your GP practice records.  Neither of these opt-outs will affect your direct patient care.