From 1st November, all patients in England will automatically be able to access their GP health record through the NHS app and other online services.
Having your health history at your fingertips sounds like a good thing, and for many people, it is. But it also puts women at greater risk from abusers – the reality is they’ll have easier access to their survivor’s medical history, which they could use to further manipulate them.
Women can take action NOW to keep themselves safe. If you are concerned, all you need to do is get in touch with your GP surgery and ask that access to your information is removed. It only takes one phone call, you don’t even need to make an appointment.
With under a week before these new changes are rolled out to everyone across England, it’s urgent we let women know how to keep their information private. Will you do your bit by sharing this advice on social media, so the women in your life know how to keep themselves safe?
Together with other women’s organisations, we have been working with the NHS to make the system as safe for survivors as possible.
Until the right safeguarding changes are made, we’re advising survivors to consider deleting the NHS app from their phones – if it’s safe to do so.
1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime. That’s why it’s vital we share this advice far and wide – you never know who might need to hear it.