Your right to opt out of data sharing and processing

The NHS Constitution states ‘You have a right to request that your personal and confidential information is not used beyond your own care and treatment and to have your objections considered’. For further information please visit: The NHS Constitution

National data opt-out

The national data opt-out was introduced on 25 May 2018, enabling patients to opt-out from the use of their data for research or planning purposes, in line with the recommendations of the National Data Guardian in her Review of Data Security, Consent and Opt-Outs.

By 2020 all health and care organisations are required to apply national data opt-outs where confidential patient information is used for research and planning purposes. NHS Digital has been applying national data opt-outs since 25 May 2018. Public Health England has been applying national data opt-outs since September 2018.

The national data opt-out replaces the previous ‘type 2’ opt-out, which required NHS Digital not to share a patient’s confidential patient information for purposes beyond their individual care. Any patient that had a type 2 opt-out recorded on or before 11 October 2018 has had it automatically converted to a national data opt-out. More information is available here General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR) – NHS Digital

If you wish to opt out, you can do it online and via the NHS app. On the NHS app it can be found in the “Your Health” section and then by selecting Choose if data from your health record is used for research and planning.

The web address is Make your choice about sharing data from your health records – NHS (www.nhs.uk).

Those without internet access can call 0300 303 5678 Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm excluding bank holidays.