Sensitive first post

**professor~yaffle**

horsewhisperer wrote: »

Plus, that only refers to terminations performed by the NHS. It is possible to have a private termination (I did) and in these instances, you do not need a GP referral. Mine isn't even on my medical notes.

That's probably quite wise given the care data HSCIC stuff that's going on at the moment. Apparently all our NHS notes are going to be uploaded onto a government database, and there's no guarantee the information will remain anonymous in the long-term, which sounds a bit scary. There's stuff on my medical record I wouldn't be happy for external companies or organisations to see.

Upsidedown_Bear

**professor~yaffle** wrote: »

That's probably quite wise given the care data HSCIC stuff that's going on at the moment. Apparently all our NHS notes are going to be uploaded onto a government database, and there's no guarantee the information will remain anonymous in the long-term, which sounds a bit scary. There's stuff on my medical record I wouldn't be happy for external companies or organisations to see.

You can opt out of this.
See here for details:
http://medconfidential.org/

sweaty_betty

**professor~yaffle** wrote: »

That's probably quite wise given the care data HSCIC stuff that's going on at the moment. Apparently all our NHS notes are going to be uploaded onto a government database, and there's no guarantee the information will remain anonymous in the long-term, which sounds a bit scary. There's stuff on my medical record I wouldn't be happy for external companies or organisations to see.

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

You can opt out of this.
See here for details:
http://medconfidential.org/

Sorry to go off-topic, but I'd not heard about this. My only concern to "opting out" would be that if I needed urgent medical attention it might be best if hospitals etc had immediate online (or similar) access to my records. Is there any more information on this?

burnoutbabe

horsewhisperer wrote: »

I had my termination privately at Marie Stopes and the actual experience (of Catholic extremists outside the clinic) primarily was awful.

I've been to the London MS clinic for contraceptives and there is someone outside, who will politely offer you a leaflet. But that was the extent of it. I went around 3 times and was the same each time, they are not shouting abuse at you (and the police would be called if they were I assume).

Just to re-assure anyone who is thinking of going privately to one of these clinics.

System

I'm shocked that there are such people outside clinics in the U.K. I thought it was just the extremists in the us that did such vile things. I'm sure most women who decide on abortion don't just make a snap desicsion so they should not be subjected to abuse like that. No one should

Torry_Quine

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

I'm shocked that there are such people outside clinics in the U.K. I thought it was just the extremists in the us that did such vile things. I'm sure most women who decide on abortion don't just make a snap desicsion so they should not be subjected to abuse like that. No one should

I totally agree. I just don't see how harassing someone like this achieves anyting. Where I live it's not a problem as there are no private clinics and all abortions are in NHS hospitals or clinics.

System

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I totally agree. I just don't see how harassing someone like this achieves anyting. Where I live it's not a problem as there are no private clinics and all abortions are in NHS hospitals or clinics.

Don't get me wrong, I understand people have pro life opinions, and in some cases strong religious beliefs which can go hand in hand, but in the case of religious reasons it doesn't strike me as very Christian like to abuse someone who is vulnerable, and if I was religious id find people doing that in the name of god equally as offensive

Upsidedown_Bear

sweaty_betty wrote: »

Sorry to go off-topic, but I'd not heard about this. My only concern to "opting out" would be that if I needed urgent medical attention it might be best if hospitals etc had immediate online (or similar) access to my records. Is there any more information on this?

There are two issues here.
One is the Summary Care Record which I think is what you are thinking of.
Details here about it and how to opt out if you want to.
http://www.summarycarerecord.info/

The website I linked to is about potentially all your medical information being available to anyone including private companies.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/24/fears-grow-open-access-patient-records

Some further information in addition to the website mentioned in my previous post here:
http://www.care-data.info/

**professor~yaffle**

sweaty_betty wrote: »

Sorry to go off-topic, but I'd not heard about this. My only concern to "opting out" would be that if I needed urgent medical attention it might be best if hospitals etc had immediate online (or similar) access to my records. Is there any more information on this?

I only found out by accident. I'm surprised it's not been publicised much, to be honest, given that it's potentially quite a big step that's being taken that could have far-reaching consequences but here's a couple of articles. I'm afraid one's from the Daily Fail, the other one is a more recent one from the Independent.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2428211/GPs-threaten-boycott-Big-Brother-NHS-database.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/your-life-in-their-hands-is-the-caredata-nhs-database-a-healthy-step-or-a-gross-invasion-of-patient-privacy-9042564.html

Of course the NHS have their own slant on it, too, but they're likely to put a positive gloss on it, as I presume they're benefitting from it financially (?)

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/records/healthrecords/Pages/care-data.aspx

hope this helps
sorry to take the thread a bit off topic, but it may still be relevant anyway.

sweaty_betty

Thank you very much