Activists launch legal challenge against NHS patient data-sharing deal

Rebecca Hill reports:

A civil rights group has launched a legal challenge in the UK against a deal that asks the NHS to share patient data for immigration enforcement.

The agreement allows the Home Office to ask the NHS to hand over non-clinical information on patients – like date of birth or last known address – for immigration offences, such as outstaying their time limit in the UK.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) – struck between the NHS, the Department of Health and the Home Office – came into effect on January 1 this year.

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