National Data Opt Out

You can also make or change a choice for yourself by phoning the NHS Digital Contact Centre.

The phone number is 0300 303 5678 – Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).

A member of staff can:

• help you use the online service
• make or change a choice on your behalf
• print and post a form to you

General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDfPR)

• Data collection

NHS Digital have recently announced it is setting up a new primary care data collection service. The new data collection process is to begin from the 1st July 2021 (01/07/21).

What is the GPDfPR?

The General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection will help the NHS to improve health and care services for everyone.

For example patient data can help the NHS to:

• monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of care
• plan how to deliver better health and care services
• prevent the spread of infectious diseases
• identify new treatments and medicines through health research

As a GP practice we already share patient data for these purposes, but this new data collection will be more efficient and effective. This is similar to General Practice Extraction Service (GPES), which has operated for over 10 years and now needs to be replaced. In addition to replacing what GPES already does, the GPDfPR service will also help to support:

• research the long-term impact of coronavirus on the population
• analyse healthcare inequalities
• research and develop cures for serious illnesses

Who will collect the data from our Practice?

NHS Digital only.

What data will be collected?

The following data may be collected from GP medical records:

• any living patient registered at a GP practice in England when the collection started – this includes children and adults
• any patient who died after 1 July 2021, and was previously registered at a GP practice in England when the data collection started

NHS Digital will not collect patients’ names or addresses. Any other data that could directly identify patients (such as NHS Number, date of birth, full postcode) will be replaced with unique codes which are produced by de-identification software before the data is shared with NHS Digital. This process is known as pseudonymisation.

Who will receive this pseudonymised data?

NHS Digital will share pseudonymised data with any relevant organisation so that they can use the data to improve health and care services going forward. Although please note NHS Digital will be able to use software to convert the unique codes back to data that could directly identify patients in certain circumstances, and where there is a valid legal reason.

Will NHS Digital share patient data?

Yes. Although the data NHS Digital will receive from our practice will be pseudonymised they will have the means to be able to convert this code back into identifiable data. This will only happen where there is a valid legal reason to do soand where they meet strict criteria to use the information for local, regional and national planning, policy development, commissioning, public health and research purposes.

This personal / patient data may then be shared with relevant organisations who can help with that patient’s care.

Can patients opt out?

Yes. Although the data going across to NHS Digital will be pseudonymised there may be a possibility that a patient needs to be re-identified as explained above. As a patient you may not want this and may want to opt out of this data collection completely. You can opt out of your data being used for research and planning purposes. This can be done by the practice or through the National Data Opt Out Service: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/national-data-opt-out