Local Medical Committee boycotts Summary Care Record uploads over consent fears
Madlen Davies writes in Pulse:
An LMC [Local Medical Committee] is advising GP practices to block the creation of Summary Care Records after NHS managers backtracked on plans for a media campaign informing patients of their right to opt out of the scheme.
Manchester LMC is advising all practices to refuse to agree to SCR uploads unless the local PCT agrees to pay for a publicity campaign to inform patients about the SCRs being created.
Dr John Hughes, chair of Manchester LMC, told Pulse the compulsory Public Information Programme (PIP) mailing providing information about SCRs and giving the patient 12 weeks to opt out of the programme was sent out in 2010, but the programme had changed since then and SCRs were only being created now.
He said that following pressure from the LMC, the PCT had initially agreed for an advert to run on TV and in the Manchester Evening News to ensure patients were adequately informed. But during later discussions, the PCT said the adverts would not run because it could not ascertain how many people would see them.
He said the LMC could therefore not support the SCR upload and he would write to all practices to urge them not to support the care record rollout as there were concerns about the ethics of the ‘implied consent’ model.
