The government is planning laws that will enable police forces to “strong-arm” NHS bodies into handing over confidential patient data that have sparked fury from doctors’ groups and the UK’s medical watchdog.
New powers for police forces would “set aside” the existing duty of confidentiality that applies to patient data held by the NHS and will instead require NHS organisations to hand over data police.
Last week, England’s national data guardian, Dr Nicola Byrne, told The Independent she had serious concerns about the impact of the legislation going through parliament, and warned that the case for introducing the sweeping powers had not been made.
Full story in The Independent, 18 October 2021