Thread by @Foxglovelegal

BREAKING: We’ve built a huge team to take the GP data grab to court – but we need your help.

@JustTreatment, @TheDA_UK, @allthecitizens, @NPCUK, @openDemocracy, and @daviddavisMP are fighting for people’s right to a say in the use of their health record: crowdjustice.com/case/stop-the-…

Time is running out. The deadline to opt out is 23 June. Most people haven’t heard of the scheme. The gov’t hasn’t properly informed or involved patients.

If they don’t fix it, we’ve got to go for an injunction ASAP. We sent an urgent legal letter: ft.com/content/a13225…

Our coalition says the process for scraping 55m people’s confidential health records and putting in a central database has been rushed and unfair – and is unlawful.

Unless the scheme is stopped and changed, we will take the government to court.

We’ve also launched this petition - join us in telling Matt Hancock we won't let this stand.
foxglove.org.uk/nhs-data

GPs are overwhelmed and most surgeries still remote – they can’t shoulder this burden. And they’re concerned about undermining trust between doctors and patients. Ask @TheDA_UK.

Lots of older people aren’t online – they’ve never heard of this. The @NPCUK knows all about it.

You can opt out - here’s @medConfidential’s handy guide - but this mess is on the gov't to sort.

They should explain exactly what they aim to do with people's private health records - and who gets access.

How can we make an informed choice otherwise?
medconfidential.org/how-to-opt-out/

You can read @openDemocracy’s write up of this case, and why it matters, here from @carolinejmolloy. We’ve taken two cases with oD about NHS data before and are proud to be taking a third.

opendemocracy.net/en/ournhs/lega…

“The idea that 55m UK citizens’ confidential health data is going to be handed over to unknown companies with unknown controls is alarming.” - @carolecadwalla for @allthecitizens

(Citz organised @independentSage. Like us, they support research that keeps faith w patient trust.)

"Every single NHS patient we work with was completely shocked to hear this was happening....We urgently need the government to pause this process and allow a proper, informed national conversation on the use of our health data." - @diarmaidmcd of @JustTreatment

“My constituents don’t expect when they sit down with their family GP that their sensitive health data is going to be able to be accessed by all and sundry." - @daviddavisMP

“GPs were barely informed of this major change- how are patients expected to know? @TheDA_UK supports safe, consensual uses of patient data, including health research. But we want to see it done in a way that...won’t erode the relationship between doctor and patient." -@relshire

“The way that this has been done has excluded older people and is unfair. We’re very concerned about the lack of consultation and publicity about this except a lone government website. Most of our members have never heard of this." -Jan Shortt, @NPCUK