The best way to protect NHS patients’ data | Letter
A genuinely competitive market would prevent any single company’s decisions from putting the system at risk, says Prof Erika Denton Your article on the TPG/Optum UK deal, over the patient record system used by most GP practices in England, highlights a specific issue that is symptomatic of a much bigger problem ( Alarm at NHS patient records being put under control of US private equity firm, 27…
In a recent letter, Prof Erika Denton warns that the TPG/Optum UK deal, which involves the acquisition of patient record systems used by most GP practices in England, exposes a deeper issue plaguing the NHS. Denton, who has spent years in the NHS both in clinical radiology and national policy roles, points out that this deal follows a concerning pattern of a few large suppliers controlling sensitive patient data.
She advocates for building upon the progress already underway, ensuring that ownership of any single system carries less risk regardless of who holds it. NHS England's initiatives, including guidance on AI-enabled tools and provisions in the health bill regarding the single patient record, are moving in the right direction. Denton emphasizes that the next step should be clear: data should remain in the UK, a clinician should sign off before any changes are made in a patient's record, and an audit trail should be easily accessible for both regulators and patients.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
