The New Dark Age

14 October 2014 — 38 Degrees

The government are planning to sneak through the plan that would allow private companies to buy our personal medical data. But together we could stop it. [1]

The scheme’s called Care.data. 38 Degrees members helped block it a few months ago. [2] But now NHS managers are trying again to push through the same pro-privatisation plan. They’ve not addressed any of the concerns about privatisation. Insteadthey’re hoping to dodge public concern by doing a stealth rollout, a few areas at a time.

To stop these plans again, a huge number of us would need to join together. So should we launch a campaign to stop our health data falling into private hands?

A different, anti-privatisation version of Care.data could be used to make our NHS better. Doctors and researchers could use the data to improve public health and develop new treatments.

But sadly the current plan offers our valuable data to corporations. That’s a breach of our privacy – private companies could see details of mental health treatments, if we had cancer, and any medication we’re on. [3] It’s also a dangerous boost to privatisation – giving corporations data which will help them take over more of the NHS.

Together we can fix their plans now, before it’s too late. There are two key ways 38 Degrees members could have maximum impact:

1. Sound the alarm nationally and use the power of 38 Degrees members nationwide to stop these plans in their tracks. We can spread the story to let people know and we could raise money from across the UK to stop the rollout on the ground.
2. Block the rollout on the ground:
   • Enable people who live in the affected areas to opt out of the scheme (it was was this tactic that stopped their plans last time). There’s a website which makes this easy, and is ready to go.
   • Work with 38 Degrees members on the ground to let as many people as possible know about the threat of private companies and spread the news with leafleting, adverts & media attention.

So what do you think? Should we launch a campaign now? If enough 38 Degrees members say ‘YES’ we can launch a campaign straight away.

Allowing private companies, like Serco, to access our data is part of the drip, drip privatisation of our NHS that 38 Degrees members are so keen to stop. That’s why we’ve worked together to keep care.data out of the hands of the corporations before – and why we could have a big impact together again.

Thanks for being involved,

Becky, Rachel, Laura and the rest of the 38 Degrees team

PS: NHS England are planning to pilot Care.data in Hampshire, Blackburn, Darwen in Lancashire, Leeds and Somerset. 38 Degrees members in these areas are starting to think about the actions they want to take locally to stop their medical data falling into private hands.

PPS:The campaign to give people the power to sack bad-apple MPs is on a knife edge. MPs will soon be voting on the new law. But they need convincing to back it. 38D members across the country are setting up meetings with their MPs right now. Can you help? Find out more here: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/recall-meet-your-mp-info

NOTES
[1] The Daily Mail: Storm as NHS gives go-ahead to patient database despite concerns: Pilot scheme will involve 1.7million people unless an individual specifically opts out:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2784269/Storm-NHS-gives-ahead-patient-database-despite-concerns-Pilot-scheme-involve-1-7million-people-unless-individual-specifically-ops-out.html
[2] The Telegraph: NHS medical records database halted amid concerns:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10647031/NHS-medical-records-database-halted-amid-concerns.html
[3] Computing: NHS England to forge ahead with ‘unchanged’ care.data plans:
http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/2374495/nhs-england-to-forge-ahead-with-unchanged-caredata-plans#

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