Fergie's Tech Blog

UK Ministers to Put Patients' Details on Central Database Despite Objections

John Carvel writes on The Guardian.co.uk:

Health ministers vowed yesterday to press ahead with uploading millions of medical records on to a central NHS database, even if many people objected to their personal details being included. The Department of Health scorned a campaign, described in the Guardian yesterday, to force the government to abandon the scheme on the grounds that it could breach the confidentiality of personal information.

The uploading of patients' files is part of a £12bn scheme to modernise and expand the NHS IT system. The government believes patients will get better care if NHS staff can gain instant access to their medical notes, wherever in England they need to be treated.

posted by Fergie @ 11/02/2006 12:32:00 PM