FOI release

Freedom of Information request on list of all GP practices that contribute patient date to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (FOI 22/700)

Published 27 March 2023

FOI 22/700

18th May 2022

Dear

Thank you for your information request, dated 13th May 2022, where you asked for the following information:

  • A list of all GP practices, identified by name, address and/or practice code, that contribute patient data to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Please provide whether they contribute data to CPRD Aurum or CPRD GOLD.

  • Please provide the data in a CSV format and send it to me electronically.

Unfortunately, the information is exempt from release under section 41: Information provided to us in confidence, with the expectation that it will not be released, is exempt from disclosure under the FOI Act. Section 41 is an absolute exemption.

CPRD provides GPs the assurance that we will not share this information with others as a further patient privacy risk mitigation measure as it would be possible to combine these data with other public statistics on GP practices and combine this with patient level data in an attempt to reidentify patients from the anonymised data. Releasing these data would constitute a breach of confidence for which a person or organisation could bring a court action for that breach of confidence; and that court action would be likely to succeed.

If you disagree with how we have interpreted the Freedom of Information Act 2000 with regards to your request, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed. The review would be carried out by a senior member of the Agency who was not involved with the original decision.

If you have a query about the information provided, please reply to this email.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date you receive this response and addressed to: info@mhra.gov.uk.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you were to remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you would have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Please bear in mind that the Information Commissioner will not normally review our handling of your request unless you have first contacted us to conduct an internal review. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Kind Regards

MHRA Customer Experience Centre