The NHS' divisive care.data programme has been scrapped, government officials have announced.
The closure was prompted by the findings of a review by national data guardian, Dame Fiona Caldicott, into the use and security of patient data within the NHS.
"In light of Dame Fiona's recommendations, NHS England has taken the decision to close the care.data programme", said minister for life sciences, George Freeman.
The government's care.data programme was an initiative intended to improve the NHS and social services, by pooling and analysing the vast stores of patient data generated by the two bodies.
However, the scheme was dogged by criticism since its announcement in 2013 and more than a million people opted out of it during its brief trial run in 2015.
While the national data guardian's review wasn't specifically focused on the care.data programme, its recommendations were judged to be effectively incompatible with its current format.
The review found there was support for care.data's core principle - using patient data to improve the NHS - but that it was marred by a lack of public understanding and poor explanation of the scheme's functions.
Caldicott recommended that a new consent model be implemented to let patients opt-out of having their data used for anything beyond their direct care.
"The review goes further than the approach that was planned for care.data and its pathfinder areas," Freeman said.
Despite the failure of the care.data scheme, Freeman reinforced that the government and NHS England are still "absolutely committed" to making use of patient data.
"This work will now be taken forward by the National Information Board, in close collaboration with the primary care community in order to retain public confidence and to drive better care for patients," he said.
-
NHS supplier hit with £3m fine for security failings that led to attackNews Advanced Computer Software Group lacked MFA, comprehensive vulnerability scanning and proper patch management
-
Cyber attack delayed cancer treatment at NHS hospital
News A cyber attack at Wirral University Teaching Hospital in 2024 delayed critical cancer treatment for patients, documents show.
-
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital confirms hackers gained access to patient data through digital gateway serviceNews Europe’s busiest children’s hospital confirmed attackers were able to steal data from a compromised digital gateway service
-
Major incident declared as Merseyside hospitals hit by cyber attackNews The incident, which has led to cancelled appointments, is just the latest in a series of attacks on healthcare organizations
-
Thousands of procedures canceled at London hospitals as Qilin releases blood test dataNews The attack on blood testing company Synnovis continues to affect patients, while the ransomware group follows through with its threats
-
Ransomware group threatens to publish 3TB of stolen NHS Scotland data after posting proof of attackNews NHS Dumfries and Galloway has confirmed some of the sensitive data stolen during the 15 March attack has been published by a known ransomware operator
-
Attack on third-party software vendor disrupts NHS ambulance servicesNews The ambulance services serve more than 10 million people across the south of England
-
NHS data leak raises ‘serious questions’ about Manchester University cyber attackNews NHS patient data used for research purposes is believed to have been compromised in the June attack
