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Jane Dickson

August 14th, 2015

Worrying about data

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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Jane Dickson

August 14th, 2015

Worrying about data

0 comments

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

An article in the Independent newspaper highlights some worries about NHS data. It might seem a good idea to make summary care records available to pharmacists – but what if your pharmacist is also a large retailer like Boots or Tesco, whose business is increasingly dependant upon data collection and targeted sales?

What is also worrying is that, as the article details, insufficient research was completed to enable NHS England to back up their claim that making records available to pharmacies will ‘ease pressures on family doctors and improve the care given to patients in the High Street’. Their pilot study of 140 pharmacies gathered a measly 15 patients responses which were later discounted. For an organisation which constantly stresses its reliance on evidence based medicine and medical practice, it seems out of step to privilege business practice in the name of efficiency over solid evidence.

The Independent suggests a digital record card which the patient keeps and uses to access medical care and prescriptions. Might be a good idea???

Full article here:

 

Please Note: All articles categorised under Commentary are the author’s own views and not those of the D3 Project.

About the author

Jane Dickson

I am an anthropologist on the D3 Delivering Digital Drugs Project based at LSE. I completed my PhD in the material culture of sustainability and green roofs. In my spare time I craft with glass, explore molecular gastronomy and love Sci-Fi.

Posted In: Commentary

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