General Practice Data for Planning and Research

At our practice, we actively engage in a variety of research studies because we firmly believe that your participation in medical research can benefit not only you, but also future generations. Research plays a vital role in gathering the necessary evidence for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as in reshaping and enhancing healthcare services. 
Breakthroughs in medical research can lead to earlier diagnosis, more effective treatments, illness prevention, improved outcomes, and quicker recovery to daily life. Participants with an illness or disease engage in research not only to aid others, but also to potentially access the latest treatments and receive additional care and attention from our clinical trial team. 
 
Dr. Ayaz ALEEM oversees and leads research at our practice.

Research at the Misbourne Practice

The NHS needs data about the patients it treats in order to plan and deliver its services and to ensure that care and treatment provided is safe and effective. The General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection will help the NHS to improve health and care services for everyone by collecting patient data that can be used to do this. For example, patient data can help the NHS to:

  • monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of care
  • plan how to deliver better health and care services
  • prevent the spread of infectious diseases
  • identify new treatments and medicines through health research

GP practices already share patient data for these purposes, but this new data collection will be more efficient and effective.

This means that GPs can get on with looking after their patients, and NHS Digital can provide controlled access to patient data to the NHS and other organisations who need to use it, to improve health and care for everyone.

 

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

If you do not want your identifiable patient data (personally identifiable data in the diagram above) to be shared outside of your GP practice for purposes except for your own care, you can register an opt-out with your GP practice. This is known as a Type 1 Opt-out.

Type 1 Opt-outs were introduced in 2013 for data sharing from GP practices, but may be discontinued in the future as a new opt-out has since been introduced to cover the broader health and care system, called the National Data Opt-out. If this happens people who have registered a Type 1 Opt-out will be informed. More about National Data Opt-outs is in the section Who the NHS shares patient data with.

 

Here is a brief video to explain –

 

NHS Digital will not collect any patient data for patients who have already registered a Type 1 Opt-out in line with current policy. If this changes patients who have registered a Type 1 Opt-out will be informed.

 

If you do not want your patient data shared with NHS Digital, you can register a Type 1 Opt-out with your GP practice. You can register a Type 1 Opt-out at any time. You can also change your mind at any time and withdraw a Type 1 Opt-out.

Data sharing with NHS Digital will start on 1st September 2021.

 

If you have already registered a Type 1 Opt-out with your GP practice your data will not be shared with NHS Digital.

 

To register a Type 1 Opt-out with your GP practice before data sharing starts with NHS Digital, the quickest way is by opting out directly via the NHS Digital website. The link to this is – https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/manage-your-choice/

 

Alternatively, you complete our online Register your Type 1 Opt-Out Preference form by 23 June 2021 to allow time for processing it. If you have previously registered a Type 1 Opt-out and you would like to withdraw this, you can also use the form to do this.

 

You can also download the Register Your Type 1 Opt-out Preference form and send the form by post or email to your GP practice or call 0300 3035678 for a form to be sent out to you.

 

If you do not want your confidential information from any organisation to be used by other health and care organisations for research and planning, this cannot be coded at the practice. You will need to register a ‘national Data Opt Out’. This can be done by visiting NHS: Your Data Matters.