Cameron plan to host medical records online
Conservative leader David Cameron has laid out proposals for users to store their medical records online with companies such as Google or Microsoft.
The plan would see patients host their medical records with private companies across the internet. Similar schemes – Google Health and
Microsoft HealthVault – currently operate in the United States of America.
Cameron said:
“Today, you don’t need a massive central computer to do this. People can store their health records securely online; they can show them to whichever doctor they want. They’re in control, not the state.”
Scheme would ‘encourage’ healthy living
The Conservative leader’s comments came after it was recently revealed the Government’s £12 billion electronic patient database would be delayed by four years. Cameron argued that his proposal would not only save The State money, but also encourage people to become more health aware.
“When they're [patients] in control of their own health records, they’re more interested in their health, so they might start living more healthily, saving the NHS money. But, best of all in this age of austerity, a web-based version of the government’s bureaucratic scheme services costs virtually nothing to run.”
The scheme has come under scrutiny by a number of opposition MPs. Norman Lamb, the
Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said there were a number of concerns regarding the proposal. He cites the marriage between Steve Hilton, a Cameron policy advisor, and Rachel Whetstone, a Google communications executive as a possible conflict for interest.
“It leaves a nasty taste in the mouth that there are repeated references to Google, given the closeness of Team Cameron to that organisation, and it leaves concerns about commercial advantage.”
