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Electronic records- a matter of trust
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Electronic
Patient Records – NHS at risk of undermining public trust The
digitisation of patient records needs much wider consultation if the NHS
is to retain public confidence in patient confidentiality, says a new
survey published today (11 October) by nef (the new economics
foundation) and the Centre for Science Education at Sheffield Hallam
University. The
nationwide survey of 6,000 people, supported by the Wellcome Trust, used
new in-depth consultation tools to explore attitudes to the digitisation
of records amongst both adult and younger people. ·
57% of adults and 67% of young people were enthusiastic about the
potential benefits to treatment and healthcare from switching to digital
patient records. ·
80% of adults and 85% of young people believe patients should be
able to choose not to be included in any digital database using personal
health data. ·
92% of adults and 97% of young people backed giving patients
access to their records. Only 35% of adults and 36% of young people,
however, support online home access, and only 11% and 13% backed
allowing patients to add additional information to their records. Stephen
Whitehead, co-author of the report said; “The
NHS holds incredibly private, sensitive information about almost every
person in the UK. But there is little public understanding of what
happens to that information. Unless the NHS takes decisive action to
narrow the divide between public perception of how information is used
and the reality, the use of electronic patient records risks seriously
undermining public trust in its ability to protect confidentiality.” The
survey also found “very significant opposition” to the sharing of
identifiable data for research without patient consent. “The
service must take steps”,
Stephen Whitehead continued, “to curb the most potentially
controversial uses of public health records and open up debate on how it
is legitimate to use our most personal details.” The
report gives seven recommendations: 1)
The right of patients to opt out of a database system at any time
should be recognised. 2)
Where patients might benefit from sharing of records outside of
the primary care environment, this should be only on the basis of
explicit consent. 3)
Non-medical staff and medical staff not directly participating in
a patient’s treatment should not have access to identifiable patient
information in any form. 4)
All patients should be given the right to review copies of their
electronic patient records in in-surgery booths or similar arrangements.
5)
Patients should be able to view an audit trail of who has been
accessing their records and when. 6)
Section 251 of the Health and Social Care act should be reviewed
as the practice of grant exemptions to the common law of confidentiality
has the potential to significantly undermine public trust in
confidentiality. 7)
Organisations responsible for the roll-out of electronic patient
records must engage with the public more effectively to identify what
forms of data sharing are accepted as legitimate. The
research, funded by the Wellcome Trust, was launched today (11 October)
at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London. At the same event, the
Royal Academy of Engineering launch their report: Privacy and
Prejudice: Young People’s Views on the Development and Use of
Electronic Patient Records More
Information: Stephen
Whitehead, Democracy and Participation Programme, Email:
stephen.whitehead@neweconomics.org Notes 1
nef (the new economics foundation) is an
independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real
economic well-being. We aim to improve quality of life by promoting
innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic,
environment and social issues. We work in partnership and put people and
the planet first. www.neweconomics.org 2
The Centre for Science Education at
Sheffield Hallam University (CSE) is a research and business development
unit specialising in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics) subjects, but in particular, science. CSE creates, manages
and delivers resources, projects and initiatives to support teachers and
students at all levels of education. 3
The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable
foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human
and animal health. The Trust’s breadth of support includes public
engagement, education and the application of research to improve health.
It is independent of both political and commercial interests.
If you believe in the work that nef does,
please become a supporter. Your support is vital to our success. Visit
the
nef website to
find out more nef (the new
economics foundation) |
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