Press Release
Issued on:
30 October 2000 For immediate release
Issued by:Susan Kirkwoord, Chairman, National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland)
Addessing Service User Concerns
The confidentiality of electronic data records and establishing a group of Service Users to work with the Fellowship Board were issued raised at the Fellowship's meeting on Saturday 28 October 2000.
The Members Day and AGM of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland) was held in Edinburgh on Saturday 28 October 2000. Service users raised two particular issues:
There is concern about the security and confidentiality of medical records, particularly as they become more accessible (and hackable) by being created and stored electronically. "If Microsoft's records can be accessed illegally, medical records must also be vulnerable", said Susan Kirkwood, Chairman of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland). She undertook that the Fellowship would look into this issue and provide some guidance for members.
Several members present asked that there would be a sub-committee or other group of Service Users recognised within the Fellowship who would raise issues of particular interest to them. The point was made that the group should involve those with experience of schizophrenia and other severe mental illness. Susan Kirkwood, on behalf of the Board, agreed that a consultation would take place with other Service Users in the Fellowship with the intention of establishing a group which could work with the Board.
There are currently no user representatives on the Board. Two places for user representatives are available.
(Ends)
For further information:
email: [email protected].
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