The Government states that one of the reasons for seeking to introduce regulations is to overcome perceived problems with the situation whereby cancer registries may be denied access to patient information. This need not be the case, the only step that needs to be taken to resolve this problem is for patients to be asked to agree to the passing on of information to these registries. It would make more sense for the Secretary of State to seek to implement regulations which, while requiring that patient consent to disclosure should be obtained as a general rule, provides for exceptions to this requirement and the safeguards which would then apply. In conclusion, there is a culture of secrecy within the NHS which prevent patients and their representatives finding out what is going on, but a cavalier attitude to the rights of patients to expect that the information they divulge to health professional will be kept confidential. The NHS still appears to consider that it owns patient information and can do with it as it pleases without reference to the wishes of those patients who divulged it solely for the purpose of obtaining care.
Patient calls to be treated as equal partners are falling on deaf ears.
There will come a time soon when patients lose patience with this attitude and the resulting backlash against the medical professions those running the health service will not be to anyone s advantage.