‘Opt out’ fear on electronic medical record system
The creation of electronic medical records in England should be suspended because patients are not receiving enough information to opt out of the system, leading doctors say.
The British Medical Association has written to the Government to express “serious concerns” that patient medical records are being uploaded too quickly.
So far, about 12 million patients in England have been sent leaflets with details of the new Summary Care Record, which aims to enable patients to be treated more quickly, anywhere in the country.
Patients can opt out of having a record created but the BMA says that they are not being given enough details to make an informed choice.
Doctors have told the BMA that records are being created for some patients — containing details of their address and current prescriptions and even allergies — without implied consent having been given.
The system is designed eventually to link about 30,000 GPs to 300 hospitals, providing access to an online appointments system, electronic prescriptions and faster computer links. The Government says that patients could have access to their own records online and will always be asked before healthcare staff look at or use their details.
The BMA called for more independent evaluation of pilot schemes and recommends including an opt-out form in the material sent directly to patients.
A £12.4 billion National Programme for IT aims to create electronic records for 50 million people in England, but is already running about four years behind schedule. In December the Department of Health announced the acceleration of the records system, but it has also come in for repeated criticism over security fears and a lack of enthusiasm among doctors for the technology.
Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA, said yesterday: “The break-neck speed with which this programme is being implemented is of huge concern.
“Patients’ right to opt out is crucial, and it is extremely alarming that records are apparently being created without them being aware of it. If the process continues to be rushed, not only will the rights of patients be damaged, but the limited confidence of the public and the medical profession in NHS IT will be further eroded.”
The BMA has issued guidance to GPs, telling them they have a crucial role to play in advising patients about their rights and recommending opt-out forms be made available in practices.
Many charities and patients groups have supported the creation of electronic records but Katherine Murphy, director of the Patients Association, called for the BMA’s concerns to be addressed immediately.
“We agree that every patient whose records are going to be uploaded should be sent an opt-out form,” she said.
“The health service should not put in place bureaucratic obstacles to patient choice because they are worried about what patients might choose to do.
“Many patients are rightly concerned about their confidentiality and consent and if there is even the slightest impression that this is being pushed through it will generate a feeling of mistrust. There is a real danger that an initiative that will benefit patients is going to turn into the usual complete mess.”
The Department of Health said that the summary care record was due to be rolled out across England by next year. But it added that no one should have an SCR created without receiving an individual letter sent to them at their address, after which they had at least 12 weeks to “opt out” if they wished.
“We are surprised to have a five year timeframe criticised as a ‘break-neck pace’ when the programme had been previously criticised for its slow uptake,” a spokesman said. “We absolutely support the right of any patient to opt out of having a summary care record and have provided various options to make this process straightforward.”
David Rose, The Times 10-03-2010