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Campaign calls for patients to choose who can access their GP record through care.data

Campaigners are calling for pilots of NHS England’s flagship GP record sharing scheme, care.data, to be halted until further safeguards to block information sharing with private companies have been implemented.

Campaign group 38 Degrees is looking to develop a website to help people opt out of the scheme.

In a message to their supporters, 38 Degrees said care.data could be used to improve the NHS. However, it added: ‘Right now, NHS England won’t let us decide who gets our data: NHS doctors and researchers, or private companies.

‘If the pilot goes well, Care.data will be rolled out across the country. Together, we need to stop it now – and get it fixed – before it goes national. NHS England could change the system so that we can opt out of private companies getting our data. So let’s make sure they do.’

A spokesperson for NHS England told Pulse: ‘We are working hard with pathfinders who have agreed to test out communications with patients. We’re also talking to 38 Degrees to understand their concerns.’