I wrote this a few hours ago, got sidetracked and now it seems overtaken by events:-
A few weeks ago, a friend showed me a copy of the opt out form, obtained from his GP. It seemed innocuous enough, as far as I could see, it allowed synchronization between hospital and GP records without needing to use post or email. Tick (or not) a couple of boxes, to allow data flow in one direction and / or the other, that was it.
No detailed information relating to flags etc was given, nor was there any mention of wider distribution within the NHS.
Reading this thread , looking at the flow chart, and tbh, not understanding much of it, I'm not surprised the admin side of the NHS is such a complete shambles.
Working on the basis that any default opt in is never designed for my benefit, getting a form seemed a good idea. I had an opportunity this morning, my wife having booked me in for a prescription review, an annual check up, or something or other.
So, I jotted down the flag designations mentioned, and presented myself at reception. There's a login touch screen with a big greasy thumbprint in the middle, which I always avoid. I'm not averse to a greasy thumbprint, but I do prefer to know where it came from, so I checked in with the receptionist, and asked for the option form at the same time. She said the ones they used "had been withdrawn for clarification". I thought I might get more information from the doctor, if I was lucky.
It's a group practice, so you pick a doctor with a british sounding name, hope you understand, and wait among the caterwauling kids and various pregnant nationalities.
Eventually, my turn came, all routine checks normal, and I was pronounced alive. Then the call centre robot script started "At your age, all the medical evidence suggests.........statins................etc.................etc".........., pretty much like garlic and vampires a few hundred years back.
This was way over my attention span, but I did notice simultaneous clattering on his laptop, which reminded me about my query. I tried a few of the flag names, just got a blank look, but at least it stopped the clatter and patter. When I explained further (as best I could), and he'd decided (maybe) I didn't need a psychiatrist, he said relevant seminar training for the practice was in the "pipeline".
So, I'm glad to know I'm still alive, but otherwise pissed off I've wasted a couple of hours of it. If you really want to opt out, they're not going to make it easy, and it's probably futile. The NHS systems look to have evolved piecemeal, and before security concerns were a real issue. The vast numbers of staff involved, the increasing overlap between public and private sectors, and deciding who has legitimate access to what, all to be monitored continually on a system that needs to remain live at all times?
Not a chance, even if you had the intent!
I'll print and present the form supplied by Spectre to my GP though, he may as well be as confused as I am.
The concern is commercial exploitation, but that battle has long been lost in most other ways. I still object on principle, but in reality it won't make me any more or less ill.
I prefer privacy, but I'm not altogether sure why. Apart from drug abuse etc, no one chooses to be ill, or should feel guilt in any way! If we think so, and want privacy for that reason, maybe we're all screwed up.
Now, porn on your PC, that's what privacy is about!