Many of us are being tracked ... far more than we thought ..

[Bryn]

As alluded to in a post above, I think that the response to the original query was to do with not being https. IIRC, the use of http for the for3 website was to do with cost and possibly extra hassle involved for https.

OG

Plus assessed lack of need for https for such a forum.

[Old Grumpy]

Plus assessed lack of need for https for such a forum.

Absolutely!

OG

[Dave2002]

Absolutely!

OG

Just don't use the same password for this site, which doesn't really need it, as for your banks and critical data sites.

[Frances_iom]

Little bit of possibly misremembered history re Google pushing the https only route
When Javascript became common and most users, ignorant of the capabilities of such Javascript, not controlling its access, certain ISPs noticed that it allowed an easy way of gaining yet more revenue by inserting an additional line of Java script into delivered pages to load adverts, - even BT trialled this until complaints developed - as Wifi started providers of such also wanted some payment and one option was to replace links to Google's adverts with links to those of companies willing to pay the Wifi provider. Hence Google's interest in stopping loss of revenue by using https to encrypt a page - once internet equipped mobile phones became common, preventing tampering of signals from the myriad of wifi sources became essential if ecommerce was to develop somewhat safer. Users using the much safer landlines did not need the unnecessary and for early computers time consuming encryption.

[Dave2002]

Little bit of possibly misremembered history re Google pushing the https only route.

Sad world, isn't it?

There always seems to be someone or some organisation trying to screw things up, in order to gain an "advantage".

In this case I'm not particularly critical of Google - as https would seem to provide better security, but the widespread adoption of mobile systems - both wifi and phone systems, does not seem to have helped at all. BT of course misused its systems - designed to transfer data and voice messages - to target potential customers by analysing the traffic. I think it was rapped over the knuckles (presumably a very mild rebuke) for that.

[Maclintick]

If anyone were to have suggested in 2013, when the NHS's muddled & misconceived Care.data scheme was "rolled out", the extent to which surveillance capitalism would mushroom out-of-control, invade privacy & monetise personal data in the following years, they would have been dismissed as paranoid fantasists. Since then, of course, we've had Cambridge Analytica, and a slew of massive data breaches in which the establishment blandishments of "Oh, don't worry, old things -- it'll all be anonymised" are proven to be complete hogwash...Here's what I sent my excellent GP, who was a tad bemused...I dithered about it -- was I being too untrustworthy, etc ? -- but glad I did when the scheme collapsed.

[Dave2002]

If anyone were to have suggested in 2013, when the NHS's muddled & misconceived Care.data scheme was "rolled out", the extent to which surveillance capitalism would mushroom out-of-control, invade privacy & monetise personal data in the following years, they would have been dismissed as paranoid fantasists. Since then, of course, we've had Cambridge Analytica, and a slew of massive data breaches in which the establishment blandishments of "Oh, don't worry, old things -- it'll all be anonymised" are proven to be complete hogwash...Here's what I sent my excellent GP, who was a tad bemused...I dithered about it -- was I being too untrustworthy, etc ? -- but glad I did when the scheme collapsed.

That's interesting. Is it still relevant? Should I send my own version to my current GP’s practice? I assume that the codes in your letter mean something to professional health care workers.

Also, should I check that my previous GP has now deleted any data which I don’t want him to keep? Would that be reasonable?

[StephenMcK]

Also, should I check that my previous GP has now deleted any data which I don’t want him to keep? Would that be reasonable?

Entirely reasonable. It is your personal information after all. Presumably though there is not much by way of either recalling or nullifying data already shared.

[oddoneout]

That's interesting. Is it still relevant? Should I send my own version to my current GP’s practice? I assume that the codes in your letter mean something to professional health care workers.

Also, should I check that my previous GP has now deleted any data which I don’t want him to keep? Would that be reasonable?

It was a two part opt-out and the codes indicate which or both you had refused.This is the current version https://digital.nhs.uk/about-nhs-dig...nt-information

The phrase "keeping patient data safe" has rather a hollow ring about it, but is very much in line with the modus operandi of a certain unkempt individual...

[oddoneout]

Re medical records there is useful information here http://www.nhsdatasharing.info/

[alywin]

Some pharmacists have apparently been instructed to discuss repeat medications at regular intervals with their 'customers'. This is surely not a matter for dispensers of medicines? It is for a GP and his/her patient.

You'd think so, wouldn't you? Yet when the system said that my sister needed to discuss her repeat prescriptions with the GP, her surgery made an appointment with her local pharmacist, who attends the surgery regularly for that purpose, apparently. I mean, the pharmacist may be qualified to discuss certain things, but not to know whether my sister should carry on taking her pills, switch to something else, or ...

[Bryn]

You'd think so, wouldn't you? Yet when the system said that my sister needed to discuss her repeat prescriptions with the GP, her surgery made an appointment with her local pharmacist, who attends the surgery regularly for that purpose, apparently. I mean, the pharmacist may be qualified to discuss certain things, but not to know whether my sister should carry on taking her pills, switch to something else, or ...

Unfortunately, a pharmacist is often better versed in up to date information of multi-medication interactions than are some GPs. None of the GPs at my local practice warned me about not taking the Calcium and Vitamin D supplement I am prescribed until at least 2 hours after taking my weekly dose of alendronic acid. It was the local pharmacist, during a review, who raised the issue.

[MrGongGong]

That's interesting. Is it still relevant? Should I send my own version to my current GP’s practice? I assume that the codes in your letter mean something to professional health care workers.

Also, should I check that my previous GP has now deleted any data which I don’t want him to keep? Would that be reasonable?

When I had to go to the hospital in an emergency a couple of years ago the doctor I saw was able to instantly call up the MRI scans I had had several years earlier. They also had my complete medical records available instantly. Given that I was in considerable pain and more than a little delirious I was glad that this was the case.

Be careful what you wish for in seeking total privacy.
Sharing data can save your life (as can playing Jazz gigs in places which are likely watering holes of cardiologists as a well known London bass player discovered last year when he "died" on stage then was revived by members of the audience)

Insurance companies and the like ARE businesses and will do anything to turn a penny (or rip you off).

[Dave2002]

When I had to go to the hospital in an emergency a couple of years ago the doctor I saw was able to instantly call up the MRI scans I had had several years earlier. They also had my complete medical records available instantly.[**] Given that I was in considerable pain and more than a little delirious I was glad that this was the case.

Be careful what you wish for in seeking total privacy[***].

Sharing data can save your life (as can playing Jazz gigs in places which are likely watering holes of cardiologists as a well known London bass player discovered last year when he "died" on stage then was revived by members of the audience)
Insurance companies and the like ARE businesses and will do anything to turn a penny (or rip you off).[****]

I'm glad that things worked out well for you.

[**]That is the sort of data sharing which I think should be allowed and could clearly be helpful in some situations. There may be however a downside, even with slightly less immediately life threatening situations. If previous data and opinions are passed on, then new teams involved in treatment may be biased towards a particular approach which might actually be incorrect. I have come across situations where different medical teams have decided deliberately to ignore all the previous data and opinions, and do their own investigations, and I believe actually got closer to the root cause of a problem. Another complication with medical work is that even if the causes of a problem are identified correctly, deciding on the appropriate treatment and actually implementing it, may not be.

[***]Sensible - but one has to decide which people, and which organisations to trust, or at least have the right to do that.

[****]I suspect that not all insurance companies are quite like that, but some are, or appear to behave in ways which would lead you to think that.[

[Maclintick]

When I had to go to the hospital in an emergency a couple of years ago the doctor I saw was able to instantly call up the MRI scans I had had several years earlier. They also had my complete medical records available instantly. Given that I was in considerable pain and more than a little delirious I was glad that this was the case.

The NHS data-opt out applies to "secondary use of patient-identifiable data", and would not affect primary use for your care had you signed up to it. Glad it turned out OK, GG.

= Be careful what you wish for in seeking total privacy.
Sharing data can save your life (as can playing Jazz gigs in places which are likely watering holes of cardiologists as a well known London bass player discovered last year when he "died" on stage then was revived by members of the audience)

As above, we're not talking about blanket opt-outs of sharing patient-identifiable data for immediate care within the NHS.

= Insurance companies and the like ARE businesses and will do anything to turn a penny (or rip you off).

Likely