There is a growing concern among some GPs and privacy campaigners about the governments new plan to share NHS patient data.

The General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR) scheme is being overseen by NHS Digital, and will allow your private information to be “extracted” to a new database – which can be accessed by businesses, researchers and other third-parties.

Sensitive and personal information on your sexual and mental health, records of pregnancies and terminations, criminal records and drug use will all be transferred to the new system, unless you opt-out.

Currently, more than 55 million patients have until 23 June to opt-out of the plans, if they choose to.

The new NHS data-sharing initiative, will also collect information on your referrals, appointments and treatments over the past 10 years, alongside other information from medical records held on GPs’ systems.

NHS Data have insisted patient’s identities will be protected and have described the new system as “very secure.”  

They have also added, personal details of patients like their date of birth and postcode will not be fully disclosed and will be coded by NHS Digital.

Plans for daily “extracts” of data from GP practise systems in England to NHS Digital are scheduled to begin on 1 July.

However, there are concerns from the British Medical Association (BMA) and Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) who have said the plans are being rushed through too quickly and haven’t had enough input from patients.

For privacy campaigners, they remain concerned about the security of the new system and impact any data breaches will have on the public.

The government have said the new programme has been developed in collaboration with patients, doctors, data and privacy experts.

The new system, General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR), will replace the General Practice Extraction Service (GPES), which has been in place for 10 years.

The new scheme is set to launch on 1 July and you have until 23 June to opt-out if you choose to.

For more information on NHS Data or if you wish to opt-out, visit: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/national-data-opt-out