Labour MP Dawn Butler has questioned health secretary Matt Hancock about a new NHS system due to share GP data for purposes beyond direct healthcare.
In a video, Butler can be seen telling Hancock: “You spoke earlier about people being very enthusiastic to give their data.
“I think you are over-exaggerating how enthusiastic people are about giving carte blanche access to their data.”
She asked: “Are you aware that Palantir and Faculty have links to the discredited Cambridge Analytica?”
He replied: “I’m not. I don’t think I am aware of that, no.”
Dawn Butler – You say people are very enthusiastic to give away their NHS data… are you aware that Palantir & Faculty have links to the discredited Cambridge Analytica?
— Haggis_UK ?? ?? (@Haggis_UK) June 10, 2021
Matt Hancock – I don’t think I’m aware of that, no pic.twitter.com/rggzhkR5ua
Butler continued: “I think it’s really vital that you should be aware of that, Palantir reportedly taught Cambridge Analytica how to scrape data, that means that you’re putting at risk everybody’s data in the country and giving it to organisations such as Palantir.
“I think it’s really important that you get to grips with that. I will give you this little book of data and democracy and some information to help inform you, secretary of state.”
Reactions
Peter Stefanovic, a lawyer who has made viral videos dismantling government ministers’ statements, said: “Heaven help us”
Dave Liddle said: “A man shitting his underpants live on television, fabulous stuff.”
And Roy said the video resembled five-year-old him trying to not lie to his mother about eating the chocolate cake.
Heaven help us https://t.co/mGsnOagtKd
— Peter Stefanovic (@PeterStefanovi2) June 11, 2021
A man shitting his underpants live on television, fabulous stuff. https://t.co/T5gFFzKHsh
— Dave Liddle (@daveliddle1989) June 11, 2021
5 year old me trying to avoid lying to me Ma.
— Roy (@badwool9) June 10, 2021
“Did you eat the chocolate cake?”
“Well, it may well have ended up in my mouth”
“Are you aware of how it got into your mouth?”
“I can’t say that I am, no” https://t.co/p41kW0PvlV
“If you want to see a real example of ‘oven ready’, here Butler not just plucks, eviscerates and trusses up Hancock, she delivers him roasted too,” Kim Spence-Jones said.
He added: “In a real democracy, this single exchange would be enough to end a career.”
And Andrew Godsell thanked Dawn Butler for her “excellent questioning” of both Hancock and Dominic Cummings in Covid select committee meetings. “The NHS data grab must be stopped,” he said.
If you want to see a real example of ‘oven ready’, here Butler not just plucks, eviscerates and trusses up Hancock, she delivers him roasted too. In a real democracy this single exchange would be enough to end a career. https://t.co/LrFSU7OoT6
— Kim Spence-Jones ? 3.5% #UBI #FBPE #FBPPR #FBPA (@KimSJ) June 10, 2021
Thank you @DawnButlerBrent for your excellent questioning of both Dominic Cummings and #MattHancock in select ctte meetings on Covid.
— Andrew Godsell ? #FBNHS ? #FBPA (@AndrewGodsell) June 10, 2021
The #NHSDataGrab must be stopped. #FBNHS https://t.co/ygou0RWdfm
What is happening?
Medical professionals have slammed a new NHS system which is set to extract patient data from doctor’s surgeries in England.
They questioned the way the plan has been communicated to the public, labelling it as “completely inadequate”.
The scheme will collect information on people’s treatments, referrals, and appointments over the past 10 years, alongside other data from medical records held on GPs’ systems.
There are real concerns that the data could be used for corporate profit, The Guardian has reported.
The new GP data-sharing system was due to start in July but has been pushed back to 1 September, health minister Jo Churchill told MPs following the backlash.
But Churchill insisted that the data programme will still go ahead this year.
NHS Digital said that information will be accessed by organisations “which will legitimately use the data for healthcare planning and research purposes”, and all requests will be subject to independent oversight and scrutiny.
Patients will be able to opt out, according to project leaders.
Related: Under three weeks to opt-out before YOUR NHS data is shared – potentially for corporate profit
Launch of new NHS data-sharing system delayed over privacy worries