MPs criticise NHS Digital/Home Office data sharing deal

The Health and Social Care Committee are said to not be satisfied with the NHS’ ability to protect patient data and have serious concerns about the government policy on the confidentiality of data collected for the purpose of Health and Social Care, and the risk of that data being shared without patients knowledge.

The committee are not satisfied that they chief executive of NHS digital have been �sufficiently robust in upholding the interests of patients, understanding the ethical principles underpinning confidentiality, or in maintaining the necessary degree of independence from Government�.

�There is a clear ethical principle that address data held for the purposes of health and care should only be shared for law enforcement purposes in the case of serious crime. NHS Digital’s decision to routinely share information with the Home Office with a lower threshold is entirely inappropriate,� said Chair of the Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston. �This behaviour calls into question NHS Digital�s ability to robustly act on behalf of patients in the event of other data sharing requests including from other government departments in the future. �It is absolutely crucial that the public have confidence that those at the top of NHS Digital have both an understanding of the ethical principles underpinning confidentiality and the determination to act in the best interests of patients.”