SOME of us have recently received an NHS leaflet informing us of plans to share confidential information from our medical records with "approved researchers and organisations outside the NHS."

The leaflet  explains that if you do not want your personal information shared then it is your responsibility to contact your GP to request that they make a note of this fact on your records.

This rings alarm bells! Not everyone has received this leaflet and many people, for a variety of reasons do  not  read unsolicited mail that comes through the door.

This may be due to multi-occupancy housing, visual impairment, low literacy levels. language differences,  lack of interest or plain irritation at more stuff to recycle or  put in the bin.

 As far as I can see no other government campaign is in place to inform people of this serious  change and  threat to our privacy.

The onus is on the patient to contact their GP in order to maintain confidentiality regarding their health records. Some GPs have come out strongly against this move.

We are told on the leaflet that this sharing (some say selling) of information would be for the benefit of research and a more cohesive planning of health and social care.

There could be another agenda. Just think how many times you are asked for details about your medical condition and where those requests come from.

At the moment you can decide how much you choose to divulge. The leaflet tells us that any information shared will not be traced back to an individual but the fact is that once the principle of open records is established, then  it could be.

Also the form held by GPs does ask for a National Insurance number. 

For me, the whole thing smacks of more unwelcome changes to the ethos of our National Health Service and to my own personal privacy.

If you feel the same then you need to contact your GP  straight away  to tell them that you do not want your medical records shared outside the practice.

If possible go to your surgery and fill in and sign the relevant form.  There are also petitions that you can sign online.

You could always contact your MP but I gather, unsurprisingly, that he is in favour.

– Diana Gash, Coleford.