Another Day, Another Climbdown

Policy climbdown's seem to be a regular occurence at the moment from the government, and today is no different.

The Government has today performed another policy u-turn, this time on it's plans to put details of patients' records on a national computer system, and agreed to proceed "with caution" with a limited list of medical information.

Or, to put it in laymans terms, anyone who doesn't want their records on a national database has got the right of veto.

Doctors and patients have expressed fears that a compulsory electronic record system could damage the GP/patient relationship, and compromise confidentiality. Following local publicity and possibly individual letters, patients will have eight to 10 weeks to opt out. Later they can view the information on paper or on a secure online site, HealthSpace, and correct it if necessary. They can also choose to opt out now by completing an "Opt Out" letter available from TheBigOptOut.org.

The U-turn by the government was prompted by a report led by patient's tsar Harry Cayton, which argued the system must be introduced with "public support and clinical confidence".

So the fact that the opt out clause is even there, pretty much shows that the public have no faith in it at all.