TranslateGeneral Practice Data for Planning and Research Directions 2021
General Practice Data for Planning and Research Directions 2021
As a minimum, practices should update their privacy notice on their website and in patient-facing areas. This may be as simple as the following:
‘We are required by law to share some data from patients’ clinical records with NHS Digital under the General Practice Data for Planning and Research Directions 2021.’
For more information, including how to opt-out of sharing of your records, please see more info here:
Opting Out
If you would prefer that your identifiable patient data is only shared for your own health care purposes, you can opt-out by registering a Type 1 Opt-out, or a National Data Opt-out, or both.
These opt-outs are different and they are explained in more detail below.
Your individual care will not be affected if you opt-out using either option.
A Type 1 opt out has to be registered by your Practice.
A National Opt out can be done without contacting your practice, at https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/ or via the NHS Digital Contact Centre: 0300 303 5678 – Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).
Type 1 Opt-out (opting out of NHS Digital collecting your data):
NHS Digital will not collect data from GP practices about patients who have registered a Type 1 Opt-out with their practice.
More information about Type 1 Opt-outs is in the GP Data for Planning and Research Transparency Notice, including a form that you can complete and send to your GP practice.
If you don’t mind the NHS making use of your data for planning and research, but object to sharing of it with other organisations, then you only need the 2nd type of opt out:
National Data Opt-out (opting out of NHS Digital sharing your data with other organisations):
NHS Digital will still collect data from GP medical records about patients who have registered a National Data Opt-out. The National Data Opt-out applies to identifiable patient data about your health, which is called confidential patient information. This opt out means NHS Digital won’t share any confidential patient information about you - this includes GP data, or other info, such as hospital data - with other organisations, unless there is an exemption.
You can find out more about and register a National Data Opt-Out, or change your choice on nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters or by calling 0300 3035678
