West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin is to opt out of a national project to centralise and share patients’ personal data. The project will help healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical companies and policy makers to identify trends. Data is anonymised before being shared with third parties. However the MP has decided to opt out of the process and has urged local people to consider contacting their GP surgery to discuss the matter. Harriett said: “The purpose of this project is to spot trends and help policy makers to allocate resources in the future. “I am registered at a county GP but also use health services where I work in Westminster. I am concerned that this will skew results and this is why I am choosing to opt out. “If you are in doubt, speak to your local GP and discuss what is best to make sure that the right resources are allocated to local surgeries in the coming years.”