Open Gov?

I'd have thought "secrecy and lack of transparency" would be the most desirable bit. SSDD as it were.

Utter, utter lunacy

What a horrifying idea.

Tory Blair wants to hand control of some of the most sensitive data in the country to to a foreign power. He must be completely off his fucking rocker. This sounds like Tony Blair's infatuation will America all over again.

That is assuming he's actually thought it through, or even discussed the idea with anyone whose IT experience goes beyond typing '+paris +upskirt' into Google. Ah hae ma doots aboot that.

Someone should tell this plank that a lot of the problems with the new NHS systems were caused by trying to adapt US software to meet UK demands.

Shit, just where is this country headed? We need a toilet icon.

Saw this on the news this morning.

Made me think when Cameron asked do you think your data's better off with the government?

It's a good point.

Oh god no...

The Tories clearly need to read this week's Fail & You column. What do they expect medical staff to do if a patient's records are unavailable for 6 hours when emergency treatment is required? And, who will they hold responsible if the patient dies? Larry? Sergey? Eric? Yeah, right.

I find Google's apparent attempts to take over the US and UK governments very worrying. Not only are we going to be subject to expensive and ill-advised Government 2.0 schemes but doesn't it all smack of some Bond villan's evil master plan? Forget the evil Bill + Steve icons we need an evil Google icon.

Way to go

If my medial information is stored with Microsoft, I will probably end up going private.

MS will not be getting my details.

There is no way I will allow my medical details to do to MS, imagine all that data on such an insecure OS.

I intend to write to Davey boy and let him know how I feel.

At least if the did send MS my details I would have a good strong moral case for a violent struggle against the govt!

A nightmare on the way

It is just as well that there is an opt-out regarding your health records. There is no way that I will allow either Google or Microsoft within a mile of my personal data. I can just imagine Google dribbling at the thought of what use thay can put these record to. Personalised drug recommendations, perhaps? This makes the Labour party's mania for data collection look like Dixon of Dock Green. Don't be evil? A true nightmare.

I for one...

... welcome our new African overlords. Although a link-up between Google and the country of Cameroon seems to be something of a non-sequitur in the context of the article. Unless, heaven forfend, someone at El Reg got a little too happy on their "O" key.

Blue sky thinkers or stoned groupies

It makes sense to look at the options all the time.. and I hope Andy Burnham is doing this with the gated reviews of the NHS IT programme, but there are two sided to be considered.. the IT cost and future benefits of the database spine.

The UK is quite unique, because the health records are owned by the state, and not by any individual patient. Once the database is complete we’ll have the best global source for data-mining health outcomes.. right at the time that DNA knowledge provides the tools to properly analyse it. The mixed population of the UK and common ancestry with the US will be a hugely valuable resource.

The US does have a much more integrated health system, but mainly geared to reducing the number of x-rays (fertility litigation) and scans (insurance claims), that are geared to the way the US pays for its health-care.. what effect President Obama’s plans will have are up for debate.

.. so.. what’s it going to be : “blue-sky thinking” flogging our health info to the highest bidder; groupies high on dotcom vapours; political posturing or a genuine analysis...

@ Mike Smith

You wrote:

"Tory Blair wants to hand control of some of the most sensitive data in the country to to a foreign power. He must be completely off his fucking rocker. This sounds like Tony Blair's infatuation will America all over again."

Uhm since when did Google or Microsoft become a foreign country?

I understand your point however neither is a foreign power although Google is getting their fingers in to the politico game here in the US.

I do agree that for the British government to consider this proposal is shear lunacy.

At best, Google claims that no 'human' will look at the records. This is a far cry from any form of a privacy statement. You don't need a human to review individual health records for their 'chocolate factory' from mining your health information and then reselling it to marketeers and such.

Here in the states, Google has already positioned itself by saying since they are not a health care provider, they are not bound by HIPAA which protects patients' medical information. That alone is enough for me to sue any of my medical providers from ever putting my medical records on Google or Microsoft.

Its a shame that the UK government is even floating any such idea. At least there was some hope for intelligent life here on earth...

National Government or International Google

Hmmmm, this is a toughy!! Would I prefer someone whom I can vote in or out controlling my data or a foreign economic behmouth. I'm not sure I can decide.

FAIL!!

Hypocrites All

Dear Tories (AKA the Law and Order Party),

Please don't give any money to convicted criminals, particularly those who have yet to admit guilt and make reparations for their crimes. Can you guess who I'm talking about, Dave?

Yours,

Me

MPs need to be sent a very clear message. I.e.

MPs protect us or loose your jobs.

The MPs are failing to protect us either through ignorance or greed. I don't care which, they need their jobs threatened to make them see the seriousness of this continuous failure to protect us all. The MPs are suppose to be protecting us. Its their job, if they can't do their job, then its time they lost their jobs and we will find people who can do their job. Their ignorance or greed is failing to protect us. Same argument against DPI companies like Phorm. Yet again MPs failing to protect us. Its horrific that companies are going to get access to even health records!.

So its time a very clear message was sent to all MPs in all parties I.e. MPs protect us or loose your jobs.

MPs if you want a full on outright public revolt against you all, then keep allowing companies to exploit us all and see how much public anger you can generate against yourselves.

MPs Enough! ... MPs protect us or loose your jobs.

Sigh

As if Google's databases are going to be any less secure than the government's ones, or those of health insurance companies. Efforts should be made at stressing the importance of making sure a proper system of access, accountability and minimising the amount of personal information stored rather than people screaming about organising a riot if the government stores their health details on servers runing Windows (which they already do).

Safe in their hands...

A slightly confused looking Cameron was babbling on about this on breakfast news this morning.

One argument he made was that 'the government can't be trusted to look after your data' apparently , after all private companies *never* lose data or screw up.

The idea that the individual should be responsible and have ownership of their medical records is a little worrying. The average idiot will be sharing this with all kinds of phishers, marketoons and other such bottom-feeders in return for percieved shiny rewards of some kind or another. That nice man in Lagos is currently looking after nana's records, and will return them for a small administrative fee.

Lunacy

Why would I want my records on a private companies servers? Companies that aren't bound by patient confidentiality laws.

@Ian Michael Gumby

Fair enough - you're right; Google and Microsoft are not government entities.

However, they ARE based in a foreign country and are answerable to a foreign government. They are not British companies, which means that the British government has next to no control over them. If the US government wants to view the data with or without the consent of Westminster, they'll go right ahead and force Google or Microsoft to play ball. After all, it's only some foreign data from... goddammit....the UK. That's near Englandshire right? Part of London? I just love those red buses y'all.

(And before I'm accused of anti-Americanism, if the positions were reversed - the UK was holding all the US' medical records - we'd probably have exactly the same attitude to your data.)

"At best, Google claims that no 'human' will look at the records."

Oh, how reassuring that isn't.

That's either an outright porkie, or (more likely) an admission that they don't give a monkey's about data quality and won't do anything to resolve the inevitable problems that will occur. That in itself should be enough to send anyone with half a brain running for cover. Medical data is far more important than a list of book preferences or suggestions for targeted ads, and when problems occur, as they always do, human intervention is essential.

You're all going private

"We're thinking about how in government the architecture of technology needs to change, with people 'owning' their own data, including their health records.""

This would be all the people then 'cos, as we all know, everyone has a computer - especially the elderly. And what happens when you can't find the data? You don't get care and they won't care - not thier fault.

Ian Michael Gumby "At best, Google claims that no 'human' will look at the records. "

You're right on that, "No human that we specifically employ will look at the records"

SFX of hands being washed

Am I the only one who thinks that this could be an improvement?

Not because I think it's an especially good idea to pass all of our medical data to companies with a questionable record on privacy and who are answerable to a foreign government, but because it seems that recent past performance of the UK government on data protection is so disappointing that I don't think we would be any worse with either Microsoft or Google.

Let's face it, the UK government has already tried to set up a national electronic patient data scheme, and has spectacularly failed. They have failed at a significant number of other large government IT projects. Given that if the Americans ask for our data, the government just gives it to them anyway, are we really worse off giving the data to a company which has significant experience in maintaining large amounts of data, trying hard not to give it to the government, and actually making the system work (mostly) seamlessly for its users?

Whatever you may say about Windows itself, the above description applies almost equally to Microsoft and Google.

@mike smith

I had to check the date that the first post was made.

The reference to Tony Blair is what fooled me, I thought it was still 2007. The current PM is Gordon Brown, remember him? Not for much longer though, eh? Pity the icon looks a bit like Clem Atlee, now there was a good PM.

Pass the Envelope

So, the "party of business" chums up to corporations, just like Labour has done. The average Britard will, however, still vote for the corrupt "big two" because "the others ain't got no chance, innit?" And so the session at the trough continues, despite the media pantomime about expenses, salaries, second jobs, directorships, and all that.

Fail and You? Fail and the Britards, more like!

The perfect extension to Street View

Would be if you could stop at any address and pull up all the personal information of those who lived there. Could that be where it's all going?

Health Vault

right now in the US I'm actually pretty impressed by the early steps Health Vault is taking.

It's run by Microsoft and data is encrypted and sharing is under my control.

provided ownership and location of storage of the data can be managed to protect the individuals in the system (a UK data center for instance)

it allows me to nominate practitioners who can store data, add my own (eg upload from my pedometer) and share a view with someone who needs access.

It's still got some work to go, and adapting to the UK would take some effort but I'd rather my tax is spent on that rather then reinventing the wheel three times and never deploying anything.

Oh, and given the choise of trusting Google or Microsoft my money would be on the latter - follow the money...

(mine is a lab coat)

Hmmm

I was worried about Cameron at first, but the more he says, the better I like him. However I'm not so sure about this...

Still the advantage of being in opposition is the chance to think about policy in a different way, and part of the idea at least I do like, which is trying to hand control of people's own data back to them. Something this government is currently very bad at. It's at least worth thinking about, and BUPA and other UK healthcare companies are also in the running, so there should be plenty of UK options for storing your data as well as MS/Google.

To be fair to the Conservatives, if they do believe that people need to have access to (and control of) their own data, then they've either got to be looking at building a whole new set of government databases with public access or control or allowing the private sector to do this. Both have their downsides, but given current government IT performance you can't blame them for being extremely wary of opting for the 'let's have a huge new government IT project' option. Especially as they're expecting to come to power running an almost £200 BILLION annual deficit!

I'd guess that they've had to tear up most of the policy work they've done in the last 2-3 years as the realisation dawns that there's going to be no money to spend, if/when they do win the election.

Being a new minister in June 2010 is not going to be a fun job! Most choices you end up making will be between bad and worse options, rather than in the fat times when there was plenty of money to waste in the hopes of achieving 'best'. So we probably ought to cut Cameron a bit of slack.

Beer icon: Because spending the next 5 years permanently drunk sounds like the best option.

@hohoho

But when will potential employers or police ever actually do this? Yeah, go ahead and scoff and call me naive, but when has this ever happened with regard to things we already have online or consider confidential? I've never been forced to login into my bank details, or hand over my credit card details or personal information to the police, a possible employer, or anyone. And guess what happens to the first company or police department that decides to do this? National scandal, and any information they may have gleaned from people's records will be deemed inadmissable for whatever they were trying to do (deem suitable for employment, or prosecution, etc.).