How the NHS and care services use your information.
From 1st July 2021, the NHS will change how it share shares your GP medical record. The General Practice Data for Planning and Research data extract by NHS Digital from GP practices across England will help the NHS to improve health and care services for everyone by collecting patient data and holding it in a central national database.
This is an upgrade to an existing similar process called GPES – General Practice Extract Service. The new data collection will be more efficient, effective and much more frequent.
For example, patient data held in this new data base can help the NHS to:
- Monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of treatments
- Plan how to deliver better health and care services
- Prevent the spread of infectious diseases
- Identify new treatments and medicines through health research
The national data opt-out is a service that allows patients to opt out of their confidential patient information being used for research and planning. There is much more information about this process here.
You have a choice about whether you want your confidential patient information to be used in this way. If you are happy with this use of information you do not need to do anything. If you do choose to opt out your confidential patient information will still be used to support your individual care. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.