Patient Data Confidentiality Assured, Says GPs

Northern Ireland's GPs have been raising concerns about patient confidentiality.

The issue was discussed at the weekend during a medical committees' conference attended by family doctors from across NI.

Dr Brian Patterson, a GP from Portglenone and the current Chairman of the BMA's Northern Ireland Council (pictured here) highlighted that patients were alarmed that identifiable information, for example names, address and dates of birth were passed to the commercial survey firm, MORI to undertake a nationwide patient satisfaction survey.

Dr Patterson said: "I was accused by two patients that I had personally handed over their details in order for them to be surveyed, and discussion with my colleagues has shown that complaints such as these were widespread.

"While information contained on a patient's medical card can be used to administer services, this does not extend to allowing private companies to make use of the data.

"I would like to reassure patients throughout Northern Ireland that GPs take their role as data controllers very seriously, and do not pass on patient details to private companies," he said.

However, he continued: "GPs are concerned that government is making identifiable patient data available for use by third parties.

"We GPs will now take these concerns to DHSSPS officials as a result of the debate at the Local Medical Committees' conference."

(BMcC/JM)