It is fairly simple to print off a form and send it in to your GP but I suspect the vast majority of people will see this as a hassle and never bother.

Considering recent government actions, I find it unsurprising that this is the only method - as far as I can find - to opt-out.

A simple form or email address would have been great. But we couldn't possibly have that for an online data service, oh no.

If you prefer, you can just write a letter to your surgery:

- State that you wish to opt-out of care.data

- Request that both the 9Nu0 and 9Nu4 codes are added to your GP records

- Remember to include full names and DOBs (and your address if you are happy to)

The conundrum I have is knowing this has been done.

I wrote a letter with all of this, took it to the GP surgery. The receptionist was bemused. There has been no acknowledgement. Can I tell if I've been opted out, without hassling the already-overworked reception staff?

Try talking to your practice manager - mine is very helpful and (s)he'll hopefully be much more clued up about this than the reception staff.

Write a letter and address it to the practice manager or the caldicott guardian. Ask for a response within 28 days to tell you what is happening.

Not only that, how do you know those codes are meaningful?

Crazy that one has to opt OUT of that, seeing as I'd bet only a minuscule fraction of the population would ever opt in...

Love how it is opt out. If it was opt in would they have any takers? If you set up auto-opt in systems where I live you would soon have the commerce commission, privacy commission or the police knocking on your door asking hard questions.

wow. having that being already identified to the individual is pretty dumb. what is the excuse for this to even be like so in the first place?

thank you!!