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National Data Opt Out update

The ‘National Data Opt-out’ was launched on 25 May 2018, providing a facility for patients to opt-out from the use of their data for research or planning purposes.

The national data opt-out was launched as part of the ‘Your Data Matters to the NHS’ campaign which informs the public about the strengthening of the rules around how health and care data can and cannot be used.

The campaign will inform patients that they can choose whether their confidential patient information is used for research and planning. A new website nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters has been launched which allows patients to find out more about how their data is used across the NHS.

The NHS should be communicating with practices and patients now about the national data opt-out choice. The NHS is also working in partnership with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on a wider public facing national campaign about data rights alongside the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The launch of the national data opt-out website will be followed by a wider communications drive to provide more information to patients about data use in the NHS and the choices available to them.

Downloadable versions of the patient poster and handouts are available online. Printed packs should start arriving in practices this month.

More information on the scheme as a whole is available from NHS Digital, information specifically for practices can be accessed here and a readiness checklist for practices can be downloaded here.

Last updated : 08 Aug 2018

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