27 May 2005
NHS staff who gain unauthorised access to patients' electronic records could be sacked, face criminal charges or be fined thousands of pounds, the Department of Health said this week.
In an effort to allay patients' fears that their care records would not be secure, the department released a 12-point pledge detailing how patients would retain control of the information. The brief electronic records, which will be launched next year, will be held on a central database, allowing retrieval wherever they are. More detailed notes will be held by patients' GPs.
Health minister Lord Warner insisted access to records would be on a 'need to know' basis, with smart cards and passwords needed to enter the system.
And he promised to take action against those who viewed records without good reason, including dismissal and criminal charges. Organisations contracted to work for the NHS would have to abide by the privacy rules.
He also promised that patients would, in future, be able to block access to parts of their records, which would be opened only in an emergency.
'The new electronic record system has enormous potential benefits for patients,' he said. 'In time, it will allow staff caring for them — wherever they may be in England — to have instant, accurate access to their essential health history, including allergies, current medication, pre-existing conditions and recent treatment.'
Patients would be able to view their own records and correct factual errors. Those unhappy with opinions entered on them would be able to add their own comments.
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