Concern erupts as Chinese researchers access hundreds of thousands of NHS patient data

Chinese research institutes have accessed data from a major UK study, according to reports. The UK Biobank study holds anonymised information on the health and genetics of half a million volunteers in Britain.

Health officials insisted they will continue to "protect NHS data" after reports of foreign researchers accessing patient information. NHS officials said legal approval has to be gained before data is shared. Researchers from around the world can apply to access UK Biobank information to help deepen medical knowledge. One in five successful applications for access to the data have come from researchers in , which is second to the number of applications made by academics working in the United States, according to the . Studies from Chinese researchers using data from the UK Biobank have been published in a number of academic journals in the past year. These include the British Journal of Sports Medicine, BMJ Evidence Based Medicine and Heart and Neurology.

Findings have also been presented to major health conferences, including the European Society of Cardiology Congress. The studies have focused on a number of topics, including sleep, and heart failure.

Emma Lagerstedt, from the Understanding Patient Data organisation, said the data contained in GP records is understandably regarded as sensitive - even when de-identified.

She added: "Patients who participate in large cohort studies rightly expect their data to be safeguarded and for researchers to uphold the highest ethical standards. Given both the sensitivity of GP data and wider public concerns - such as those related to national security - greater transparency is essential.

"This includes clear, accessible information about how access to data is authorised, who has accessed it, and for what purpose.

"Demonstrating this level of transparency and trustworthiness is critical to maintaining public confidence in the use of patient data for research."

An NHS England spokesperson said: "NHS England is working closely with Government, the GP profession, privacy campaigners and patient representatives to allow GP data to be shared with specific approved research studies in cases where individual patient consent has been provided.

"While a legal direction would be required before any data is shared or before any agreement reached, NHS England will continue to work to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect NHS data."

Professor Sir Rory Collins, Principal Investigator and Chief Executive at UK Biobank, said: "Half a million people volunteered to join UK Biobank so scientists around the world can tackle conditions such as cancer and dementia.

"All our volunteers have given explicit consent for researchers to study their de-identified health data, and many have emphasised the importance of their GP data being analysed.

"We follow Government guidance on who can use UK Biobank and have robust processes for secure access to the data that are supported by the Government and our funders."

UK Biobank said all researchers and academic institutions are "carefully vetted" before an application is approved.

So far more than 15,000 peer-reviewed studies have been published using UK Biobank data in 13 years since researchers around the world have been able to access the data.

Professor Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council, said the findings emerging from UK Biobank-powered research are a testament to a "managed access model" which allows researchers internationally to accelerate the discovery of new drug targets, treatments and diagnostics.

He added: "Their data protection procedures are comprehensive and we have full confidence in how these are implemented."

Nicola Perrin, Chief Executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities, who is also a board member of UK Biobank, said today's press coverage makes it sound as though there will be a free-for-all on Chinese access to NHS data - but this is simply not the case.

She added: "It is important to be clear that any request for access goes through rigorous application and approval processes. Importantly, GP data will not be sent around the world and data will only be accessed in UK Biobank's Research Analysis Platform - a secure data environment."

A Government spokesperson said: "Protecting national security is the foundation of everything we do. We have strict security procedures in place to ensure all sensitive UK health data information is protected.

"UK Biobank data sharing has been in use for over a decade and is always de-identified, removing the direct and indirect details that allow people to be identified.

"There is an extremely high bar and data is only shared with legitimate researchers for specific research purposes. It can only be accessed within a secure digital environment and it is not possible to download copies of the GP data outside of that secure digital space."