An MP's attempt to stop patient records being shared across the NHS is a "blow" to pharmacy, PSNC has said.

Roger Godsiff, Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green, tabled an early day motion in parliament last week (January 22) for NHS England's plans for records access to be delayed "indefinitely" while patient groups were consulted.

Mr Godsiff said MPs had "no faith" that the government could guarantee patient data would remain anonymous and called for the plans to be amended so patients' records would only be shared if they opted into, rather than out, of the scheme.

Early day motions allow MPs to draw attention to an event or cause in the House of Commons, although very few are actually debated. But PSNC head of NHS services Alastair Buxton said any attempt to stall the sharing of patient records was a blow to pharmacists' efforts to deliver "effective and integrated healthcare".

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	"We understand concerns about the need to protect patient confidentiality, but this is an issue that pharmacies already manage and we believe the benefits of allowing them to see records - where patients give permission - would bring huge benefits while adding minimal additional risk," Mr Buxton told C+D this week (January 27).

PSNC, along with other pharmacy organisations, would continue to "make the case" for pharmacists to be granted records access, he added.

NHS England said this week that it was "committed" to ensuring its plans to share data complied with its legal duties to maintain patient confidentiality.

"It is important to remember the benefits this programme could bring are enormous: NHS commissioners will be able to see what treatments and interventions are working best, and they'll be able to keep track of specific conditions to ensure there's enough services to meet local demand," an NHS England spokesperson said.

Throughout January, NHS England has been sending leaflets to every household in the country explaining how patients' medical records will be shared across the NHS to improve services.

The leaflets advise patients to visit their GP practice if they want to opt out of having their information shared, before the first data from practices is sent to the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre in spring.

Earlier this month, the government pledged to give pharmacists priority access to patient records to unlock their "tremendous potential" in public health and disease prevention.

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