I think that the use of technology has improved the quality of health care throughout the world. However I am not an advocate of the widespread dissemination of patient “information”. The government’s NHS spine IT system is misguided and open to the sort of accidental abuse that is bound to happen with busy people using the system.
To say that everybody who has access will have their own “smart card” which only they will use is dangerously naive, what about those folks who leave it in their other shirt, mislay it, have it stolen etc? We have seen how easy it is for laptops, data sticks and discs to go walk-about.
More concern comes from the lack of confidentiality right across the system, nor from well meaning but overwhelmed health care staff but interfering and controlling civil servants who are able to obtain, use and sell information that was once considered private between an individual and his professional adviser.
My family opted out of the system a couple of years ago, the only way that you can do the same is to write to your General Medical Practitioner now.
The Incisal Edge 