The New Dark Age

This week, Phil joined Dr Marcus Baw on his ‘Everything Digital Health’ podcast to discuss ID cards, Healthcare and Privacy (amongst other things…)

It covered a lot of ground, including consensual, safe and transparent use of patients’ data and what that means in practice – and also considered whether the good parts of NHS culture (as yesterday’s Westminster Hall debate laid out in detail, there are other not-so-good parts) might offer a model for more open, accountable digital government.

Of course, that would require investment in people, teams and code – per the Goldacre Review – rather than sucking everyone’s medical histories into Wes Streeting’s Single Palantir Record under his, and any future Health Secretary’s, political control.

Government isn’t listening, and – rather than listening to the public and professionals; those working at the front line, who actually deliver our public services – Ministers who promise ‘change’ instead double down and defend the choices of their predecessors.

The episode even covered the creation of the original NHS numbers, which many may not know were derived from WWII ID cards…

Funny how history tends to repeat itself!