National Data Opt-Out

National data opt-out allows patients to opt-out of their confidential information being used by the NHS for research and planning. It only applies to information being shared for purposes beyond an individual’s care and treatment, it does not apply to information sharing for direct care

All practices must have procedures in place to identify whether they have data disclosures where the national data opt-out applies, and if so, how they will remove the records of patients who have registered an opt-out. Our practice is compliant with the national data opt-out policy.

If you don’t want your identifiable patient data to be shared for purposes
except for your own care, you can opt-out by registering a
Type 1 Opt-out or a National Data Opt-out, or both. These opt-outs are different and they are explained in more detail below. Your individual care will not be affected if you opt-out using either option.

Type 1 Opt-out (opting out of NHS Digital collecting your data)

We will not collect data from GP practices about patients who have
registered a Type 1 Opt-out with their practice. More information about
Type 1 Opt-outs is in our GP Data for Planning and Research Transparency Notice, including a form that you can complete and send to your GP practice.
If you register a Type 1 Opt-out after this collection has started, no more of
your data will be shared with us. We will however still hold the patient data
which was shared with us before you registered the Type 1 Opt-out.
If you do not want NHS Digital to share your identifiable patient data with
anyone else for purposes beyond your own care, then you can also register
a National Data Opt-out.

National Data Opt-out (opting out of NHS Digital sharing your data)

We will collect data from GP medical records about patients who have
registered a National Data Opt-out. The National Data Opt-out applies to
identifiable patient data about your health, which is called confidential
patient information.
NHS Digital won’t share any confidential patient information about you – this includes GP data, or other data we hold, such as hospital data – with other organisations, unless there is an exemption to this.
To find out more information and how to register a National Data Opt-Out,