Opting out of research and health and care service planning supported through the WMSDE

We understand there might be times when you would prefer that your health information was not used for research and health and care service planning supported through the WMSDE. If this is the case, you can let us know through our Local Data Opt-Out service.

What will opting out mean?

We need researchers to keep trying to find new, life-saving medicines and treatments, especially for our biggest health problems such as cancer and dementia.

Or for those times when we urgently need a fast response to a critical situation, such as with the millions of lives saved by two drugs to treat COVID-19 patients and a brand new vaccine – both the result of health research.

Your health information already plays an important part in research like this. By continuing to allow that to happen, you’ll be helping save lives. You could make a difference not only to your own health, but to that of other people as well – including your family. You too could benefit from what’s learned from other people’s care.

We also need a better understanding of the health and care needs of people living in our region so we can support them to live healthier, longer lives by transforming the way we work.

What we can learn by analysing people’s health and care data is the key to making all this possible.

If you’re happy for your health and care information to help with research and health and care planning, you don’t need to do anything.

However, if you would rather your information was not used for research and health and care planning supported through the WMSDE, you can opt out. It’s entirely your choice.

You can do this by saving and completing a copy of the West Midlands SDE opt-out form. You can download this as either a PDF form or a Word form. You only need to complete and send us one of these. When you have filled in the form, please email it to us at WMSDEOptout@uhb.nhs.uk, or post it to us at:

WMSDE
R&D
1^st Floor
ITM
Heritage Building
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
B15 2TH

You will need your:

• full name
• NHS number
• date of birth
• address
• email address

Please also sign the declaration on the form.

If you’re unable to download or print a form for posting, you can email us at WMSDEOptout@uhb.nhs.uk to ask us to send you a form through the post. You will need to include your full name and postal address, including postcode, in your email.

We are also setting up a way you can give us your details by phone if you would prefer us to complete the form for you. We will publish details here of how you can do so as soon as this service is available.

Opting back in

You will be able to opt back in at any time by saving and completing a copy of the West Midlands SDE opt-in form. You can download this as either a PDF form or a Word form. You only need to complete and send us one of these. When you have filled in the form, please email it to us at WMSDEOptout@uhb.nhs.uk, or post it to us at:

WMSDE
R&D
1^st Floor
ITM
Heritage Building
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
B15 2TH

You will need the same information as for opting out – your:

• full name
• NHS number
• date of birth
• address
• email address

Please also sign the declaration on the form.

If you’re unable to download or print a form for posting, you can email us at WMSDEOptout@uhb.nhs.uk to ask us to send you a form through the post. You will need to include your full name and postal address, including postcode, in your email.

As with opting out, we are setting up a way you can give us your details by phone if you would prefer us to complete the form for you. We will publish details here of how you can do so as soon as this service is available.

Opting out of all research and health and care planning

If you would like to opt out from allowing your health information to be used for any health research and health and care planning at all, please see the National Data Opt-Out page on this website.

When your choice about sharing data from your health records does not apply

You can find out more about this on the Your NHS Data Matters website.