The government has announced that the General Practice Data for Planning and Research programme will be delayed until 4 key areas are strengthened:
- The ability for patients to opt-out or back in to sharing their GP data with NHS Digital, with data being deleted even if it has been uploaded.
- NHS Digital’s backlog of opt-outs cleared.
- A Trusted Research Environment is available where approved researchers can work securely on de-identified patient data which does not leave the environment.
- A campaign has increased public awareness of the programme, explaining how data is used and patient choices.
Three changes are being made to the opt-out system so that patients can change their opt-out status at any time:
- Patients DO NOT need to register a Type 1 opt-out by 1st September to ensure their GP data will not be uploaded.
- NHS Digital will create the technical means to allow GP data that has previously been uploaded to the system is the GDPR collection, to be deleted when someone registers a Type 1 opt-out.
- The plan to retire Type 1 opt-outs will be deferred for at least 12 months whilst they get the new arrangements up and running and will not be implemented without consultation with the RCGP, the BMA and the National Data Guardian.
Update 26th July 2021