The General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR) programme is an initiative by NHS England aimed at improving the way patient data from general practices is collected and used for health planning and research purposes.    GPDPR collects pseudonymised data from GP records to support various functions, including:

• Healthcare planning and commissioning
• Policy development
• Public health monitoring and interventions
• Medical research

The data collected excludes directly identifiable information such as names and addresses. Instead, identifiable data like NHS numbers and dates of birth are replaced with unique codes through a process called pseudonymisation. This ensures that while the data remains useful for analysis, patient identities are protected.  

Initially, the GPDPR programme was scheduled to commence on 1 July 2021. However, due to concerns raised by healthcare professionals and the public regarding data privacy and the need for better communication, the start date was postponed and as of this update, the NHS does not have a set start date for this collection.

NHS Digital decided that data collection would only begin once specific criteria were met.

For further details please visit the NHS Digital website by following this link>>

In the meantime, patients who do not wish to have their data shared through the GPDPR programme can register an opt-out with us by filling in and providing the Practice with Type One Opt Out form here>>, or alternatively use the National Data Opt-Out service here>>

If you don’t have access to a computer, you can ask the NHS Digital Contact Centre to post you the forms you need. Their phone number is 0300 303 5678 and they are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays), or you can write to:

National Data Opt Out Contact Centre
NHS England
Freepost
PO Box 16738
Redditch
B97 9PT

To find out more about how the Practice processes patient data and information, how it is shared and how data is protected, please follow this link to Your Personal Information page:>>