The review by Dame Fiona Caldicott FMedSci, the National Data Guardian, looked at how to improve patients data security and consent and opt-out mechanisms.
Professor Sir Robert Lechler, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences welcomed the publication of the Caldicott review saying:
“We welcome the publication of this review and the attention it focuses on improving data security for health information and developing a new model of consent through discussion with the public.
"With appropriate access to patient data researchers can seek to understand the causes of disease, to investigate the safety and effectiveness of drugs, treatments and interventions, and to improve health care services. If the public are to support their data being used for research we must address any concerns over security and be clear about who can access this data, when and why. The recommendations announced today will make steps towards achieving this.
"We need to engage in conversations with the public, patients and healthcare professionals if we want to ensure a trusted system for storing and sharing health information is in place. For this reason we welcome the call for a wider dialogue that will give all sectors of society a chance to shape and inform the way health data is used."