But researchers, such as Michael Coleman at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, argue that consent and anonymisation are not always possible, and that without access to data, work that is in the public interest will stop.

ECONOMIST: Patient confidentiality: Who's looking at your notes? | The

For the moment, the researchers have got what they want, but the government has said that the amendment is a temporary measure, and will be reviewed annually to take account of progress in electronic record-keeping, anonymisation and encryption of data which might eliminate the need for identifiable information.

ECONOMIST: Patient confidentiality