Following several days of crisis talks it was agreed yesterday that the programme would be halted for six months. A campaign will be launched in the mean time to more thoroughly explain the proposed changes to the public, including the fact that this people can opt out should they wish to.
There has been severe backlash against the scheme amid privacy concerns and the handling of the scheme in general. If successful though, the benefits of having such a system in place are substantial. The proposed changes will likely include national television and radio advertisements to ensure the public is fully aware of the new database.
If implemented properly such a comprehensive database could be of great value to GPs, doctors and hospitals. The potential is there to make the NHS more efficient, more cost effective and ultimately to save lives. That of course, is if everything goes to plan. Let us now consider the negative sides to such a system. Obviously there is considerable room for exploit here. From your details being sold for profit, to hacked, or (more likely) leaked due to incompetence. That of course is very bad news!
It is an opt out scheme, but is it in our best interests to opt out? Doing so could put you at increased risk or mis-diagnosis or mis-treatment when this scheme is rolled out. I don't have a problem with the idea in general. If it was executed well it could be extremely beneficial to all of us. It's just so sad that it appears to have been executed so poorly, and that confidence in the NHS and the government is so low that many of us simply don't trust them with such a system. What do you think? Will you be opting out?
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