Confidential patient records could be passed from the NHS to government depts and private companies, leading to a "disastrous impact" on public health

Government plans to sell patient records
article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"Government plans, contained in the Coroners and Justice Bill, would allow almost unlimited access to medical records of named individuals without their consent.

Under the proposals, patient information held by GPs, health centres, pharmacists and hospitals could be passed to insurance companies or research organisations. The data could also be given to other government departments, such as the Department for Work and Pensions to check whether people who claimed benefits were able to work.

In a letter to Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, medical organisations expressed "grave concerns" about the Bill. They said that sharing confidential health records would result in patients being less open with their doctors, which would jeopardise their care and public health initiatives."

I think we can take it that "research organisations" equals drug companies...)o:

"Data Protection" is an oxymoron as far as this Government is concerned...)o: - and, of course, "Data Security" is a wholly imaginary concept...)o: