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June 05, 2009
NHS patients may be ‘refused treatment’ for opting-out of electronic care record
Government denies plan, vows it is offering equal rights to patients
By Leo King, www.computerworlduk.com
Some NHS managers have threatened to refuse treatment to patients who do not want electronic summary care records, according to doctors.
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Patients, trying to use their right to opt out, have told Computerworld UK that during medical appointments they were warned of a potential threat to ongoing care.
The news has prompted anger from members of the medical community and a swift rebuttal by from Connecting for Health, which runs the troubled £12.7 billion National Programme for IT (NPfIT).
Connecting for Health said refusing treatment to patients who opted out was strictly against its instructions and ethics.
Despite this some GPs are saying there is “real pressure from above” in the NHS, to refuse treatment to patients who do not want to be part of the system. One GP said this “will probably end up in court” if patients, paying for the NHS through taxes, are refused care for opting out.
One patient told ComputerworldUK.com he felt forced into a decision he did not want to make - taking an electronic record so that he could continue to receive vital ongoing care.
Another said he had been refused care at several NHS surgeries, because he wanted to limit the amount of information being shared with hospitals and other practitioners. He was happy, however, with his GP accessing the records.
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Comments received
Mary Hawking said on Tuesday, 09 June 2009
I have been quoted slightly out of context.
2 years ago some Trusts started to refuse to accept non C&B referrals so preventing patients 'sensitive' on PDS receiving care: they were out of line - and told so forcibly.
The SCR is only useful if there is a system to access it in non-GP situations i.e. hospitals, A&E, OOH and emergency services etc: if the local provision of emergency care is based on the availability of SCR, there is bound to be pressure on practices to engage - and a sufficient volume might get well informed local patients!
I did express concern about the mission creep in SCR: if a patient gives consent - even implied - to SCR holding medication, allergies and patient approved information, can this cover inclusion of hospital letters?
Consent cannot be retrospective and informed.