OpenSAFELY data update

Dear OpenSAFELY Users,

We previously communicated that we had to temporarily remove all deregistered patients from the population available in OpenSAFELY-TPP. This was to ensure that we respected all Type 1 Opt-outs, and allowed us to reopen earlier, but introduced substantial difficulties with the representativeness and usefulness of the data.

We are pleased to let you know that the OpenSAFELY Steering Group (Chaired by NHS England, with membership including the BMA, the RCGP, and medConfidential, and patient representation through the OpenSAFELY Digital Critical Friends) support the deregistered patients being added back into OpenSAFELY-TPP.

The Board concluded that the Type 1 Opt-out be upheld for all currently registered patients in TPP.

We will implement a phased approach to reach this requirement, which will initially result in de-registered patient data (from patients who have moved to a non-TPP practice) also being removed from OpenSAFELY if the patient had a Type 1 Opt-out code in their TPP GP record.

The available TPP primary care population is now:

1. All patients currently registered at a TPP practice
2. All patients registered at any time from 2009-01-01 onwards, but having since de-registered
3. All patients registered at any time from 2009-01-01 onwards, but having since died.
4. EXCEPT all patients who have a type 1 opt-out code in their TPP GP record¹