Data Opt Out: Type 1 & National
NHS Digital is the national custodian for health and care data in England and has responsibility for standardising, collecting, analysing, publishing and sharing data and information from across the health and social care system, including general practice.
NHS Digital collected patient data from general practices using a service called the General Practice Extraction Service (GPES), which has operated for over 10 years and now needs to be replaced.
NHS Digital has engaged with doctors, patients, data and governance experts to design a new approach to collect data from general practice that:
- reduces burden on GP practices
- explains clearly how data is used
- supports processes that manage and enable lawful access to patient data to improve health and social care
Opting out
If you don’t want your identifiable patient data to be shared for purposes except for your own care, you can opt-out by registering a National Data Opt-out. Your individual care will not be affected if you opt-out. This is the National Data Opt Out Link
The NHS will collect data from GP medical records about patients who have NOT registered a National Data Opt-out. The National Data Opt-out applies to identifiable patient data about your health, which is called confidential patient information.
NHS Digital won’t share any confidential patient information about you – this includes GP data, or other data we hold, such as hospital data – with other organisations, unless there is an exemption to this.
To find out more information and how to register a National Data Opt-Out, please read our GP Data for Planning and Research Transparency Notice.
You will need to be aged 13 years or older, have access to your email or mobile phone and have your NHS number. You can find your NHS number here.
Links
GP Practice Data for Planning & Research: Privacy Notice
https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/
Video: NHS/ICO Data Information