You may have seen information in the news about opting out of your data being shared within the NHS digital. The NHS have shared the following information as to how and why 3rd party use your data:
“The organisations using the data to do this may be public sector bodies, charities, academic institutions or commercial organisations but they will all have a legal basis and legitimate need to use the data, which must be used for healthcare planning and research purposes. We do not sell the data. We will recoup the costs of providing the data as we are not funded to do so. We will not allow it to be used for commercial purposes such as marketing, insurance or market access. Requests for data will be stringently assessed, applications will be scrutinised by both an independent group of experts as well as GP representatives before any record level data is accessed and we publish all data sharing agreements on our website. We then carry out independent audits and, where necessary, post audit reviews to check that data applicants are meeting their obligations and publish these audits on our website. We do these things to ensure that data sharing is as transparent, safe, secure and privacy-protecting for patients as it can be.”
If you would like to opt out, you can do so via the NHS website on https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/manage-your-choice/
Otherwise, you may opt out by emailing the surgery your decision along with your name, date of birth, telephone contact number and your address. You may also complete a form that is able to be downloaded from the NHS website.