Health written question – answered at on 3 September 2012.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce an opt-out system for the use of anonymised patient data within health research.
When data are effectively anonymised they can no longer identify specific individuals and they have no legal right to opt-out of the data’s use for health research or other purposes. We therefore have no plans to introduce such an opt-out system.
The Government published in May 2012 our information strategy for health and care in England, ‘The power of information—Putting all of us in control of the health and care information we need’.
This strategy makes it clear that we will use anonymised data to drive system improvement, our health and care choices, integration, efficiency and research; support growth; and allow robust measurement of care outcomes.
A copy of the publication has already been placed in the Library and further information is available at:
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