Domestic abuse charities surface fresh worries over NHS data sharing

Some of the UK’s most distinguished charities working to stop violence in opposition to women and girls have warned that the automated opening up of NHS GP data for sufferers to view on-line or through the NHS app – which comes into effect on 31 October – will put the non-public security of victims of home abuse and stalking in danger.

More than 20 organisations, together with End Violence Against Woman (EVAW), Refuge and Women’s Aid have put their names to an open letter – which was additionally signed by the British Medical Association (BMA) – wherein they highlighted how the GP data sharing plan, which was imagined to have began in a earlier kind in 2021 earlier than being postponed after a public outcry over privateness points, might compromise individuals’s security by making it simpler for his or her abusers to realize entry to their sufferer’s medical data through coercive means and weaponise it for abusive functions.

It is estimated that a few quarter of girls expertise home abuse of their lifetime, and fifth are prone to expertise stalking. As such, the group is “deeply concerned” concerning the implications of report sharing.

“It is really disappointing and saddening that the government and NHS England have not fully addressed the real risk to survivors that these changes will create,” stated Refuge interim CEO Ellen Miller.

“These adjustments will enable perpetrators to realize entry to survivors’ private well being data, together with particulars on drugs, sexual, reproductive, and psychological well being data, and disclosures of home abuse.

“The lack of publicity around these changes means that some survivors records may already be available in the NHS app, and they do not even know it. It is essential that these changes are publicised widely, so that survivors know to take the necessary precautions to improve their safety and privacy.”

Additionally, in accordance with Refuge, whereas the adjustments legally solely apply to potential medical data created from 31 October onwards, resulting from varied selections inside native NHS our bodies, quirks, and the truth that individuals opt-in and -out of varied providers when altering their GPs, some who’ve already gained entry to their data have discovered solely new or current info, whereas others have discovered data going again almost 50 years. All of this data is in varied states of completeness – some have delicate data redacted, others don’t, for instance.

The group stated that though some survivors might discover they’ve already been made exempt or that their GPs might have redacted info on their sufferers’ behalf, this may not all the time be the case, so it’s now calling on abuse survivors to get in contact with their GPs and request entry to their info be rescinded.

It added that if protected to take action, survivors may additionally wish to contemplate deleting the NHS app from their gadgets till the well being service can deal with the problems, and evaluation different medical apps, similar to menstrual cycle trackers, that they might be utilizing, which can additionally lack adequate safeguards.

Miller stated: “Our message to survivors is straightforward. Call your GP surgical procedure and ask that entry to your data be switched off, in order that they can’t be seen within the app. If you might be involved, and it’s protected for you to take action, please additionally contemplate deleting the NHS app out of your machine.

“While we all know that some have already accomplished so, we urge all GP surgical procedures to test their affected person lists and exempt any sufferers which can be thought of susceptible or that you’ve safeguarding considerations about.

“Refuge is determined to protect survivors and we are deeply concerned that the safety of survivors have been largely ignored while these changes have been implemented. We will continue working with partners and healthcare representative organisations to ensure NHS England build in safeguarding and protect vulnerable women and children,” she stated.

Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA GP Committee for England, stated that some medical doctors have been additionally apprehensive concerning the pressured implementation of data sharing, although for an excellent many sufferers accessing their GP data on their smartphones could be a optimistic and welcome factor.

“For almost two years we have been engaged with the Department of Health and NHS England in highlighting GP’s anxieties,” stated Bramall-Stainer.

“I fear for sufferers we steadily see, a mother or father whose abusive partner might use delicate medical info to undermine authorized instances of custody of dependents within the household courts, sufferers requesting covert contraception forbidden of their dwelling or relationship, or these disclosing abuse from others who might have entry to their smartphone.

“These are but a few examples causing GPs as data controllers to raise concerns about this flawed implementation.”

Bramall-Stainer echoed Refuge’s name for sufferers to let their GP apply groups know in the event that they wish to opt-out, or to stop utilizing the NHS app till higher protections are in place.

“GP practices should be sensitive to the risks created by these changes and take a proactive approach to protecting patients, particularly where there are safeguarding concerns. They also need to be aware that women may be concerned and respond speedily to requests to turn off access,” she added. “It is essential that survivors are protected as records are made accessible and that perpetrators cannot use medical information for abuse.”