Is there such a thing as confidentiality any more?

Blackmail, yes. It has happened already. There are many people who have, perhaps a history of mental illnesses or sexually transmitted diseases or abortions who for various reasons may most emphatically not want this information to become generally known, or may not want a spouse or child or parent to know. This leaves them open to blackmail or coercion under threat of having this information made public.

FlicketyB I also would be perfectly happy for such information to be used for medical research purposes. However, I think the article states that there is a two-tier system whereby information can firstly be gathered, and then, when a further fee is paid, there is then the possibility that the information can be linked to specific people.

ps thanks for interesting comment, you'll have to dig deep in that memory and write memoirs about life as a saturation diver (although some things are best remembered, hopefully with pleasure or amusement, in the still hours of personal reflection )

I suppose for me the resistance against the whole idea about "mining" and "drilling down" into information and projections of illnesses that may come in the future, comes down to: something's gonna get you, do you really want to live your life with that "maybe it will be x, y, or z" hanging over your head (plus the heads of your children). I'm talking about unpreventable and incurable illnesses. They free to warn me of life-threatening but preventable possible illness - that happens already, which is why I try to eat a healthy diet and take exercise.

I've a SIL in America who seems to spend her entire life at the doctors being investigated for something that may happen and then we have to fend off phone calls and emails imploring us to have those checks, the system there has her on the back foot, always afraid of "failing" the next test.

That's my opinion today, not saying I won't change it in the future. :P

... that should be they're free to...

Eloethan, it is that and careless security that worries me about the NHS plans.

I do think that when people are diagnosed with something genetic (Chorea,retinosa pigmentosa, or certain types of breast cancer or thalassemia) they should know regardless of whether they want to or not as it will affect children they may have. And secrecy makes things a charter for blackmail. I do know someone who refuses to have aNHS identity but you have to have good health and good teeth and good eyesight and the ability to travel abroad for treatment.

I have just caught up with this thread, and going back to the 'bracelet', my husband has a mediband which we bought on line from Australia. He is on Warfarin, and found carrying his idenitity card a bit of a bore. Since he has been wearing this, I have noticed one or two other people with them, they are just plastic bands which seem to be popular with the younger generation, (for no reason), and they seem to wear well. It is possible to get blank ones, with the necessary equipment to 'write on' whatever is appropriate. We are getting one for our son who does not talk, with just a telephone number of the people who care for him on it.

A friend of mine just rang his GP and said he needed an urgent appointment and the receptionist asked what was wrong with him - definitely out of order in my book - none of her business! It is up to the doc to decide what is and what isn't urgent.

I am inclined to agree with you - my doctor's surgery is the same. I can sort of see their point of view though. The receptionist would probably be in trouble for arranging an emergency appointment for something relatively minor, so if the doctor isn't available to speak to, it is probably policy that a receptionist asks for more information. I can imagine, though, that it could be embarrassing discussing some things with a "lay" person.

Some years ago, I had to leave a urine sample at my doctor's reception desk. The receptionist asked in a loud voice in front of a full waiting room "Is it for pregnancy?" I should have said something to her but I answered meekly and slunk off.

To be fair I went into my local surgery today to book a double appointment with one of the doctors for a specific form of treatment, my usual doctor had written to me telling me to do so, and the receptionist asked what it was for, adding so that the doctor has the equipment and drugs ready when you arrive.

I think it is because this GP is so good at this minor procedure that every other GP in the practice send their patients to him for it rather than do it less expertly themselves. The receptionists are used to this happening and just check each double appointment so that if he is to exercise his particular expertise he is ready and prepared.

Just looked at the article again (think it might have been updated) and it seems to me that if it is going to cost BUPA etc a minimum of £140 pp they are not going to do a lot with it especially as "The HSCIC said that it "only provides identifiable data when there is a lawful basis to do so, eg, with patient consent". Don't think I am bothered then.

Not relating to the article but is anything 'Private' anymore?

I don't think it is bad medical records are on computer.
I went to a local walk in centre a few weeks ago which I had never been to before and they got my records up in seconds.
I still think you have to tell the nurse about your health as she only sees you for a few minutes and can not read through everything.
I understand the major things flash up like allergies to certain medicines.
My only major problem is an allergy to insect bites and I have to go for about 2 lots of antibiotics a year.
This started in London in the early 80's and stopped for about 3 years when I came to Birmingham.
I am wondering if they are anything to do with the global warming as the problem started again in about 2007.

Frank

If you've only got 'medicaly urgent' appointments available and the receptionist books in a patient with a verrucca that they've had for 6 months it might not leave another appointment for something potentially very serious [and the GP would not be best pleased either]. And urine samples go to different places depending on what they're for; it's most annoying for a patient to have to re do a test and bring it in because it should have been sent to the hospital and not given to a practice nurse. If booking a home visit, for example, the doctor needs to know what the problem is so they can make sure they have suitable medication with them. It's not easy being the go betwen between the patient and the doctor .

I'd never thought of it like that Tegan!

All these years I've thought they were just being nosey.