NHS patient records could be stored by a private company like Google if plans put forward by the Tories get the go ahead. They are currently considering the option as an alternative to the current IT system overhaul under Labour. They are due to announce the results of a review in the next few weeks which is likely to consider handing over medical records to Google or Microsoft. It means that patients could potentially access their records from a home computer, and the Conservatives say that this system would be more secure because patients have to give their permission before NHS staff can access their records. But the plans have come under fire by doctors and other campaigners who say that this could be dangerous in an emergency situation where for instance an unconscious patient could not give their permission for medical staff to access vital information about their health. There is also concern that the database could be hacked into.


The new IT system that is being brought in by Labour, Connecting for Health is costing £12.4 billion and won’t be working until 2014. This has been delayed by four years and has been called ‘centrally determined and unresponsive’ by Tory leader David Cameron. But Cameron’s own proposal has been controversial, because of the Conservative’s close link with Google. The party has said that patients will have the option to have their information stored by one of a number of companies of which Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault have been confirmed possibilities. Patients will not have to opt in to the scheme, and those wishing to stay out of it will have their records kept on the current system, based at their doctor’s surgery. But despite this, some people may find that they wish to get a quote for private medical insurance to avoid this possible new system altogether if they are worried about the safety of their information.