NHS data opt-outs: the national data opt-out, GP records and the Summary Care Record

Last checked: 23 Oct 2026

In England there are three separate choices about your health records: the national data opt-out, the Type 1 opt-out at your GP surgery, and your Summary Care Record. They cover different things. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own, different arrangements.

The national data opt-out and the Type 1 opt-out are about research and planning, and the NHS says the national data opt-out "will not impact your individual care". The Summary Care Record, and similar records in the other nations, are different: they decide what staff treating you can see, including in an emergency.

The national data opt-out (England)

The NHS says it "gives you the choice to opt out of your confidential patient information being used for anything apart from your direct care, unless an exemption applies", and that "Any choice you make will not impact your individual care."

• What counts: "confidential patient information" means something that can identify you joined with something about your health care, such as "your name joined with what medicine you take" (nhs.uk).
• England only: it covers NHS and publicly funded adult social care in England, and private care given in NHS settings. It doesn't cover children's social care, or health and care services in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (NHS England Digital).
• How long it lasts: it's recorded against your NHS number and stays in place unless you change your mind, "even after they have died". It isn't backdated: NHS England Digital says data shared before you opted out "should not be recalled".
• Marketing and insurance: the NHS says access to confidential patient information "will not be given for: marketing purposes; insurance purposes (unless you request this)" (nhs.uk). That applies whether or not you opt out.

When it doesn't apply

The NHS lists these situations:

• your own care and treatment
• where the law requires the information, such as a court order
• where you've given consent, such as for a medical research study
• emergencies, or where other people's safety comes first, such as controlling contagious diseases
• where the details that identify you are removed first
• a few named uses, such as official national statistics like the census, and some others listed by NHS England Digital, including national patient experience surveys

Federated Data Platform: the NHS states: "The National Data Opt-Out does not apply to the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) or to any individual platform, IT system, or programme of work that processes patient data. This is because your data is being processed for your direct care."

The overview page also still says "your information may be used for COVID-19 research purposes even if you have chosen not to share it". We couldn't confirm whether that still applies.

• For another adult: you need a health and welfare lasting power of attorney, a property and financial affairs lasting power of attorney, or to be their Court of Protection deputy. Use the form "Make and manage a choice for someone else", by email or post (nhs.uk). The NHS says you can't do this for someone else in the NHS App or on the NHS website (NHS App help).
• To check: "enter your details again at Make your choice or check your settings in the NHS App" (nhs.uk).
• No deadline: "You can make or change your choice at any time" (nhs.uk).

Disease registers: a separate opt-out

The National Disease Registration Service keeps registers of cancer, rare diseases and congenital conditions (conditions present from birth). It says: "Opting out of the registers is different from the National data opt out ... you must still opt out with us directly." You email its opt-out team, with proof of identity and address, and it says your data is deleted within 20 days.

Type 1 opt-out: your GP surgery (England)

nhs.uk describes this as a way to "Stop your GP surgery from sharing your data". With a Type 1 opt-out, "your GP will not share your data for research and planning. However, NHS England will still be able to collect and share data from other healthcare providers, such as hospitals" (nhs.uk).

1. Download the Type 1 opt-out form (a Word document). It can be used for yourself or for a dependant if you're their parent or legal guardian, and also to withdraw an opt-out later.
2. Send it to your GP surgery by email or post. "Only your GP surgery can process your opt-out form. They will be able to tell you if, and when, you have been opted out."

Is it still available? Yes, as of October 2026: nhs.uk still offers the form, and NHS England's guidance for GP practices (updated March 2025) still says patients can opt out by completing it. The form itself says: "Type 1 Opt-outs may be discontinued in the future. If this happens then they may be turned into a National Data Opt-out. Your GP practice will tell you if this is going to happen and if you need to do anything." No official page we checked says it has ended.

Summary Care Record (England)

NHS England Digital says the Summary Care Record (SCR) "is a short summary of your GP medical records. It tells other health and care staff who care for you about the medicines you take and your allergies." Everyone registered with a GP has one unless they've chosen not to.

• Who can see it: registered and regulated healthcare professionals, who "will always ask your permission to view it, unless it is a medical emergency". It isn't used for research or by the police and other government departments.
• What's in it by default: the April 2025 preference form says that if you haven't set a preference before, your record includes medicines, allergies and reactions, plus additional medical information.
• Who looked at it: you can ask an organisation for a record of who has viewed your Summary Care Record with a subject access request.

There are three choices:

1. Medicines, allergies and reactions only.
2. Those plus Additional Information: significant illnesses, operations, vaccinations, how you'd like to be treated, support needs and contacts.
3. Opt out of the Summary Care Record: the form describes this as for "if you DO NOT want any information shared ... including in an emergency".

To choose, "inform your GP practice or complete the SCR patient preferences form and return it to your GP practice" (NHS England Digital). You can change it at any time. A parent, legal guardian or someone with health and welfare lasting power of attorney can fill in the form for someone else. Help: 0300 303 5678 or enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

England's national data opt-out doesn't apply to services in the other nations, and we didn't find an equivalent national opt-out for research and planning on official pages for any of them.

Wales

• Research and planning: a 2021 article by Senedd Research (the Welsh Parliament's research service) says England's GP data plans don't apply in Wales, but Welsh patients registered with an English GP practice are affected and have the same right to opt out. It also says that for the anonymised research databank SAIL, "Welsh patients can only opt-out by making a request to their GP". We couldn't confirm whether that is still the position.
• Welsh GP Record: to stop a summary of your GP record being included, return the opt-out form to your GP practice. The form says this "will also stop information being shared with other Health & Social Care settings", and your diagnoses, medicines, allergies and recent test results "will not be available to those who provide you with care and treatment, like hospitals, out-of-hours or in any emergency care situation". It doesn't move with you: if you change GP practice, you need to discuss it with the new one.

Scotland

• Right to object: NHS inform says "You have the right to object to your information being used. NHS Scotland will consider your request and respond within 1 calendar month." It may refuse if it "can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds". Contact your local NHS Data Protection Officer (NHS inform lists them). See also the general right to object.
• Sharing in a particular way: NHS inform's privacy page says you can tell NHS staff if you don't want your health information shared in a particular way or with specific people, but "it is not an absolute right".
• Emergency Care Summary and Key Information Summary: NHS inform's health records page says staff must get your consent before looking at your Emergency Care Summary, and that the Key Information Summary is discussed with your GP. It doesn't give a way to opt out of either.
• SPIRE: NHS inform's privacy page still mentions GP data being used "with SPIRE", but the SPIRE website says it "was closed on 31 August 2023". The link on NHS inform's page goes to a different organisation with a similar name.

Northern Ireland

• Research and planning: we didn't find an official page on opting out.
• Northern Ireland Electronic Care Record: nidirect says "If you don't want information about your allergies or medications made available to NIECR through the Emergency Care Summary Record, you should tell your GP practice." Your Key Information Summary is only shared with other healthcare professionals involved in your care if you agree. nidirect doesn't say whether you can opt out of the rest of the record, such as hospital results and letters.

Sources

• nhs.uk: Make or change your choice (national data opt-out)
• nhs.uk: Your NHS data matters, overview
• nhs.uk: Where confidential patient information is used
• nhs.uk: Where your choice does not apply
• NHS England Digital: Understanding the national data opt-out
• NHS England Digital: National data opt-out (edited 16 Oct 2026)
• nhs.uk: NHS App help, choosing your data sharing preferences
• NHS: Your data matters online service
• NHS England Digital: National Disease Registration Service, opting out (edited 28 Jul 2026)
• nhs.uk: Opt out of sharing your health records (Type 1)
• nhs.uk: Type 1 opt-out form (Word document)
• NHS England: Consent to using and sharing patient information (updated 14 Mar 2025)
• NHS England Digital: Summary Care Records, information for patients
• NHS England Digital: SCR patient preference form page
• NHS England Digital: SCR patient preference form, April 2025 (Word document)
• Senedd Research: Patient record sharing, clearing up the confusion (2021)
• Digital Health and Care Wales: Welsh GP Record opt-out form (18 Feb 2025)
• NHS inform: How the NHS handles your personal health information (updated 27 Jul 2026)
• NHS inform: Privacy and confidentiality when using the NHS (updated 24 Aug 2026)
• NHS inform: Health records
• SPIRE (Scotland)
• nidirect: Northern Ireland Electronic Care Record

This page describes your options and how organisations say they handle requests. It isn't legal advice. See About & sourcing, or report a correction.