Patient survey shows worries about spine security

 The majority of the public are concerned about the security of their medical records being held on a central computer system, according to a survey commissioned by the British Medical Association.

In the UK-wide survey of nearly 2000 adults, undertaken by YouGov, around three quarters of respondents expressed concerns about the security of their health information held on the spine.

Although 75% had no objection to having their records stored in this way, 81% were worried that non-clinicians and those not involved with their care would be able to see their information.

Barbara Wood, co-chair of the BMA’s Patient Liaison Group, said: "Patients recognise the value of having their health record held centrally, but are concerned about who will have access to it and for what purposes.

"They are generally happy for their doctor or another health professional involved in their care to have access to their health record but they do have worries about non-clinicians having access."

Importantly, the vast majority (93%) said that the public should be consulted on the proposals before they are implemented.

Wood told the BMA’s annual representative meeting that the survey was commissioned because, while patient support is crucial for the national programme, research on what they wanted was "scanty".

"Patients only want their healthcare information held on the central record system if they specifically ask for it," she told delegates. "They want opt in, not opt out." 77% of those surveyed said that they should only be on the centralised system if they give individual consent.

The public were willing to understand the potential benefits to them of a centralised records system, said Wood. But she criticised the way that public awareness had been conducted so far. "An information campaign is not a full consultation."

Other results of the survey indicated that:

•  57% were concerned about proposals for a doctor’s envelope where information potentially harmful to the patient is withheld from the record,
• 61%  would like to be able to update their own record, and
• 69% would not mind their records being shared between health professionals involved in their care.