Domestic abuse survivors and stalking victims should consider deleting their NHS app or contacting their GP surgery as a change to allow access to medical records comes into effect, women’s safety groups have warned.
Campaigners and a doctors’ union have voiced concerns about the potential risks for vulnerable people as a result of the change in how NHS medical records can be accessed and said their safety has been “largely ignored” in the process.
By November 1, medical practices in England are expected to have enabled access so patients can see things like immunisations, test results and consultations in their NHS app.
But more than 20 organisations, including Refuge, Women’s Aid, the End Violence Against Women Coalition and the British Medical Association (BMA), said they are worried this could mean perpetrators of domestic abuse are able to view someone’s records if they have access to their phone or by coercing them.