Privacy fears over NHS database
The BBC has a disturbing story showing the constntly shifting boundaries of the database state.
A senior Department of Health civil servant said people would not be able to decide what details are stored.
Critics say this goes against earlier government assurances that patients would be able to veto the information.
The DoH said people can still discuss with their doctor what details are recorded and control who can access them – except in an emergency.
Of course, if NHS treatment is to made to depend on ID checks, as the Government has promised, such records will also be linked to the National Identity Register.
Who will decide what is an emergency? How will privacy be secured with, say, half a million health workers potentially having access? The database won’t be privileged against RIP Act powers. Even if it were, nominally, wouldn’t the NIR audit trail give clues about the kinds of illness being treated if specialist units must each check identities?
