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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Patient veto for e-care records | Patient veto for e-care records |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The government is pushing ahead with the controversial electronic care records system - but has agreed to give patients a veto. | The government is pushing ahead with the controversial electronic care records system - but has agreed to give patients a veto. |
| Ministers said the system, part of a 10-year, £6bn upgrade of NHS IT, was about improving care. | Ministers said the system, part of a 10-year, £6bn upgrade of NHS IT, was about improving care. |
| It will mean doctors across England will be able to access records containing data on medication, allergies and adverse drug reactions. | It will mean doctors across England will be able to access records containing data on medication, allergies and adverse drug reactions. |
| But patients will be allowed to veto their records being shared nationally. | But patients will be allowed to veto their records being shared nationally. |
| We are going forward cautiously. We believe that despite the noise it has generated patient care records will be of huge benefit to patients' care Lord Warner, health minister | We are going forward cautiously. We believe that despite the noise it has generated patient care records will be of huge benefit to patients' care Lord Warner, health minister |
| Doctors and patients have expressed fears a compulsory electronic record system could damage the GP/patient relationship, and compromise confidentiality. | Doctors and patients have expressed fears a compulsory electronic record system could damage the GP/patient relationship, and compromise confidentiality. |
| And a poll of over 1,000 GPs by the Guardian newspaper last month found half would consider refusing to put patient records automatically on to a new national database. | And a poll of over 1,000 GPs by the Guardian newspaper last month found half would consider refusing to put patient records automatically on to a new national database. |
| But until now ministers have argued e-records were necessary as the current paper-based system risked patient safety. | But until now ministers have argued e-records were necessary as the current paper-based system risked patient safety. |
| One of the complaints was that it causes delays in emergency hospital treatment while doctors contact GPs for patient details. | One of the complaints was that it causes delays in emergency hospital treatment while doctors contact GPs for patient details. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Allowing patient access to records over the internet creates a massive hole in security James Phillips, Stockton-on-Tees href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5020&edition=1&ttl=20061216130807" class="">Send us your comments Pilots will start in the spring, and the government is also setting up an advisory group to look at just how the veto can be achieved. | |
| It is envisaged that patients will be able to access their records online before they are put on the national database, enabling them to amend details or prevent it being shared. | It is envisaged that patients will be able to access their records online before they are put on the national database, enabling them to amend details or prevent it being shared. |
| If patients do not register their opposition to electronic records at this stage it will be assumed they are consenting. | If patients do not register their opposition to electronic records at this stage it will be assumed they are consenting. |
| Patients can also object before it is even put on to computers by arguing having an electronic record was cause them significant mental distress - under data protection laws the government is required not to store them if this is the case. | Patients can also object before it is even put on to computers by arguing having an electronic record was cause them significant mental distress - under data protection laws the government is required not to store them if this is the case. |
| U-turn | U-turn |
| The U-turn was prompted by a report led by patient's tsar Harry Cayton, which argued the system must be introduced with "public support and clinical confidence". | The U-turn was prompted by a report led by patient's tsar Harry Cayton, which argued the system must be introduced with "public support and clinical confidence". |
| How more sensitive data, such as HIV status, will be held electronically is still being considered. | How more sensitive data, such as HIV status, will be held electronically is still being considered. |
| Health Minister Lord Warner said: "We are going forward cautiously. We believe that despite the noise it has generated patient care records will be of huge benefit to patients' care. | Health Minister Lord Warner said: "We are going forward cautiously. We believe that despite the noise it has generated patient care records will be of huge benefit to patients' care. |
| "We believe there are some myths about how effective the current arrangements are in regards to safety." | "We believe there are some myths about how effective the current arrangements are in regards to safety." |
| The new system will be designed to link more than 30,000 GP surgeries in England electronically to nearly 300 hospitals. Potentially, it will hold records for 50m people in England. | The new system will be designed to link more than 30,000 GP surgeries in England electronically to nearly 300 hospitals. Potentially, it will hold records for 50m people in England. |
| The move by the government has won the backing of the doctors' trade union which to date has remained suspicious of the plans. | The move by the government has won the backing of the doctors' trade union which to date has remained suspicious of the plans. |
| James Johnson, chairman of the British Medical Association, said: "The recommendations provide a good first step and we look forward to building on this work." | James Johnson, chairman of the British Medical Association, said: "The recommendations provide a good first step and we look forward to building on this work." |