National Data Opt-out Service

A national data opt-out has been developed for patients to opt out of sharing their confidential patient information for reasons other than their individual care and treatment. The national data opt-out went live on-line and in a non-digital version on 25 May 2018.

By October 2020*, all health and adult social care organisations which process and/or disclose confidential patient information (CPI) that originates within the health and adult social care system in England are required to consider if national data opt-outs should be applied to disclosures of CPI, for purposes beyond individual care.

The PMA are delighted to have worked in collaboration with NHS Digital to develop and deliver this online training to support NHS Digital’s initiative to roll out the National Data Opt-out to a wide audience of healthcare professionals (in this case, the primary care sector).

Please note, this course is free of charge. On completion, the PMA will award a certificate for the attained CPD points.

The learning objectives are to ensure health and care professionals:

• Have the information, tools and materials they need to help their patients make an informed decision about how their confidential patient information will be used
• Know where to signpost patients for more information and the channels through which a patient can set an opt-out
• Understand when national data opt-outs should be applied

There is a knowledge check upon completion of the unit.

This method of learning allows everyone to manage how and when they absorb the information.

For more information on the process visit https://digital.nhs.uk/services/national-data-opt-out or https://digital.nhs.uk/services/national-data-opt-out/understanding-the-national-data-opt-out

Registration

Do you already have a PMA e-learning account?  Click here.

Do you need to register for a PMA e-learning account?  Click here.

If you would like to know more, please contact the PMA Team at education@pma-uk.org or phone 0330 111 6459 and we will be happy to speak to you in more detail about how the PMA e-Learning Programme can benefit you.

*COVID-19: National data opt-out compliance deadline extended

The health and social care system is going to face significant pressures in the coming months due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Staff will need to work in different ways than usual so it is important to ensure that they can focus on responding to these events. The decision has been made to extend the compliance deadline for the national data opt-out for six months up to 30 September 2020, at which point the position will be reviewed. Read the letter from NHSX and NHS Digital to health and care colleagues