Cameron’s plan upsets the BMA

“We are especially worried by recommendations that would grant researchers, possibly from large commercial companies rather than the patient’s healthcare team, access to patient records” says the BMA’s Vivienne Nathanson.

It’s a bit late for that. From the moment the NHS was created, we’ve been giving our personal details to a much less reliable data custodian than any private company. Take a look round any NHS records department, Dr Nathanson.  And this proposal is only for anonymised aggegated data anyway.

At least private companies have an incentive to make good use of our data. They only make a profit if one of their discoveries actually works.  NHS researchers can make a tidy living just writing “more research is needed”.

Jim Thornton