Surrey Downs GPs are telling patients about a scheme to make their medical records more widely available to aid research and develop services.
A spokeswoman for Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group (SDCCG) said residents may have received a leaflet on Better Information means Better Care, a national campaign by NHS England and the Health and Social Care Information Centre, which aims to improve the care of patients.
She said: "As a patient, you may receive care and treatment from a number of places such as your GP practice, hospitals and community services.
"To help improve the quality of care, data is being collated from all of these services on the treatments, experiences and characteristics of each patient.
"By bringing this information together from all the different places, comparisons can be made of the care provided in one area with the care provided in another, to see what worked best and where care can be improved.
"The research will use information such as a patient’s postcode and NHS number to link their records from different healthcare services."
A person’s records are linked in a secure system so a patient’s identity is protected.
Details that could identify individuals would be removed before information is made available to others, such as those planning NHS services and approved researchers.
If people want to opt out, they need to let their GP know and a note will be placed on their records so that their information is not shared.
Cliff Bush OBE, SDCCG’s lay member for patient and public Involvement at Surrey Downs CCG said: "Sharing information helps the NHS to understand the quality of the treatment and care patients receive.
"It helps to ensure that the quality and safety of services is consistent across the country and can also highlight different illnesses and conditions that may require more investment.
"There are many benefits to sharing information but we also know that some local patients are concerned about how their information will be used.
"It’s important local people know they have a choice and that they can object to their data being used for purposes other than direct patient care."
For more information call 0300 456 3531.
If you have not yet received a leaflet full details are also available online by clicking here.
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