NHS chiefs urged to stop giving patient data to immigration officials

MPs on Commons health committee raise concerns about duty of confidentiality

NHS chiefs have been asked to immediately suspend handing over confidential patient data to the Home Office to track down potential immigration offenders as part of its “hostile environment measures”.

Dr Sarah Wollaston, the chair of the House of Commons health select committee, has written to NHS Digital calling for an immediate halt to the handing over of confidential details of more than 8,000 patients a year. The MPs say the situation is unacceptable and they have serious concerns about the way the NHS has approached its duty to respect and promote confidentiality.

Continue reading... January 31, 2018 at 04:08PM