NHS Data Scam (2024 new) - Synopsis Home - a Medical Negligence and Data scrap scam that puts Patients at risk !
Please Note:
This is a working document and changes and indepth research will be added over time to this document.
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* this is a very important question to ask in the NHS. You can find this image and the information here on the NHS website : https://digital.nhs.uk/cyber
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Okay, so found another #scam in the NHS. It's a Data Scam by a US/Canadian "company" who want patients data and have no data protections in place.
They are called : SYNOPSIS HOME
It's run by this company called - Vital Hub
Who set up a the original website during the Pandemic
https://www.synopsishealthcare.com/who-we-are/
which features logos from the MHRA to make it look official and regulated by the MHRA (it isn't).
It then set up a fake IT company called - HiCom Technology Ltd
HiCom Tech are based in a office thats situated in a... Cemetery. Yup no joke. Here's the address and link to a Map.
Red House, Cemetery Pales, Brookwood, Woking GU24 0BL
and see their Companies House information below.
HiCom Tech announced this news piece
https://www.hicom.co.uk/vitalhub-acquires-hicom
and this product called Synopsis IQ
https://www.synopsishealthcare.com/preoperative-assessment/
there's this site too listing all it's "products" :
https://itwhsupport.vitalhub.com/en/support/solutions
which just links to the products, so therefore no actual support ?
All websites are maintained by one person. Do a domain look up at:
https://whois.domaintools.com/synopsishealthcare.com
it was registered in 2017. All the websites are Wordpress based and use a basic theme, it's a blog and badly marketed.
Websites designed by : https://browndog.agency/about/clients/ where you can see the logo for the above companies.
Then the Canadian "company" is found here :
https://www.vitalhub.com/operating-companies
it states on it's website that it works with all the NHS and puts in it's own platforms into it and helps to shape the NHS. Yet, this company doesn't do any healthcare in Canada and doesn't supply it's IT to hospitals in the country, so why only the NHS in the UK ?
It lists one of it's companies based in Bath, UK :
There's others all selling the same things ! such as
https://www.alamac.co.uk/contact-us/
and this one too :
http://beautifulinformation.org/
It's a MLM too ?
All set up to save the "NHS funding, and time, and paper work.".
But, they are all... Scams and Fraud, and are now putting patients lives at risk !
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THE COMPANY OFFICE
If you think that this health-tech company is big... think again.
Here's it's uk office... it's been on SALE for a longtime on Rightmove
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/131960741#/?channel=COM_LET
Unit 3 Querns Business Centre, Whitworth Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7
- SIZE AVAILABLE
1,979 sq ft
184 sq m
- SECTOR
Light industrial facility to lease
- USE CLASSB1
Lease details
- Lease available date:
- Ask agent
- Lease type:
- Long term
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THE OTHER COMPANIES
It seems the IT side isn't run in the UK, but here in Colombo
Why are they only offering services to the UK especially to the NHS and to NHS patients ?
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ADI Health
https://adi-health.co.uk/adi-health-acquired-by-vitalhub-corporation/
ADI Health is the same health tech company ! - so they bought themselves
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THE APPLICATION SIGNUP
The way that patients sign in to use this Synopsis Home platform is via this link :
https://www.synopsishome.com/login
There's zero message about data protection, and no link to the NHS here. Nothing. It's also a unsecure login page. Your own bank has far more protections in place than this website platform. And if you are "new" to it, you just got to sign up for it.. so what are you signing up for ?
There's another "Privacy Policy EULA" to read, it's long so most won't read it and won't know what they are signing up for:
https://www.synopsishome.com/termsandconditions/EULA-and-PP-for-Synopsis-Home.pdf
This PDF has this notice on it :
THE SERVICE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE. PLEASE READ THIS PRIVACY POLICY AND END USER AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE SERVICE. YOUR ATTENTION IS PARTICULARLY DRAWN TO EULA CLAUSE 6 – LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND CLAUSE 10 – INFORMATION PROVIDED BY YOU. The Service provided is designed to act as assistance to, and not a replacement of, specific medical advice and record keeping, you should not rely on the Service for medical advice nor use it to contact the medical services in case of an emergency. Any information regarding your health or specific medical needs should always be directed back to your Healthcare provider.
Information you provide
You will provide health, social and personal information about yourself, including but not limited to your medical history. Your healthcare provider organisation needs this information in order for you to complete the preoperative or pre-procedure assessment process. This information will be inputted by you when you complete the questionnaire at www.synopsishome.com. By volunteering such information, you are consenting for Intouch with Health to process your information for the purpose of inward transfer to the relevant data controller i.e. your healthcare provider organisation, with whom you consent to share your data with. You will give us information about yourself by completing our online questionnaire. This includes information you provide when you register to our Service, register to our site, or when you report a problem with our site. The information you give may include your name, email address, phone number, date of birth, hospital and NHS numbers and personal descriptors.
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On their website there's this How Too PDF on using the Synopsis Home platform:
https://www.synopsishealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/How-to-Use-Synopsis-Home.pdf
Zero mention of data protection etc - please take this as a Warning !
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Something of note that came to mind is : did this "company" at the time of the Pandemic and just before it, get funding from NHSX ? - i think it did and this will become relevant.
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COMPANIES HOUSE INFORMATION
SYNOPSIS HOME
Companies House shows Synopsis Home are lead by US/Canadian directors and their offices aren't in the UK.
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06251662/officers
It is worth your time looking at the company directors and where they are based (Canada/Usa), look at the companies they are connected to, look at the financial documents etc.
link: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06251662/
HICOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04516040
| 27 Apr 2022 | Registered office address changed from Red House Cemetery Pales, Brookwood Woking Surrey GU24 0BL to 2 Stone Buildings Lincoln's Inn London WC2A 3th on 27 April 2022
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NHS ENGLAND
In 2020 the NHS floated the idea, and documented it here:
It's a playbook medical care pathway, and has a disclaimer that reads:
Disclaimer
These case studies summarise user and patient experiences with digital solutions along the relevant care pathway. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the apps and digital tools referenced are not supplied, distributed or endorsed by NHS England or the Department of Health and Social Care and such parties are not liable for any injury, loss or damage arising from their use.
All playbook case studies have either passed, or are currently undergoing the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) assessment.
Please note the full legal disclaimer: NHS England playbook disclaimer
Contacts at NHS for this playbook and this "app" are:
Rachel Foley, Clinical Benefits and Change Lead, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trustrachel-foley@nhs.net
which leads to this NHS website with the FAQ
Why am I being asked to give my medical detailsBefore surgery we need to make sure you are in the best possible shape. Part of this is a pre-operative assessment. We need to know your medical details and medications. Synopsis enables you to enter these details in your own time and home. It can save a lot of time and helps us concentrate on the answers and ensure you are properly assessed.
Let me break this down for you on what they are asking and stating. My Answers are in brackets.
1. Before surgery we need to make sure you are in the best possible shape (great so far!)
2. Part of this is a pre-operative assessment. (er okay, what do I need to fill in? or do?)
3. We need to know your medical details and medications. (fine, it's held on the NHS National Care record which you, as NHS staff can assess easily and it's protected btw. See below on how to do this. )
4. Synopsis enables you to enter these details in your own time and home. (ah, there's a problem with this, why do they need this information, as it's not a medical service and isn't connected to the NHS ?)
5. It can save a lot of time and helps us concentrate on the answers and ensure you are properly assessed. (first things is "properly assessed" well this is meaningless when it comes to this online form, right ? And "save time" how? you've got my medical records already and the information it holds that includes my height and what medication i take, and what past surgery I've had in the past... it's all there held securely on my NHS National Care Record, have you not read this ?)
A really funny disclaimer here from the hospital about medical data and this synopsis app
Is the data I enter treated confidentially?
All the data you enter is treated confidentially and will not be shared. It is only viewable only by NHS staff at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
Again, you can read the FAQ yourself here:
https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/pre-operative-assessment-clinic/synopsis-faqs/
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Information from the NHS on Surgeryhttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/having-surgery/
Before having Surgery, here's what to do
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/having-surgery/preparation/
there is mention of pre-opp assessment, but it's nothing like using a third party
and it's all not invasive, it's all simple things like - blood pressure, weight, height
taking blood samples etc (all these things are recorded in your NHS Medical Care Record therefore no third party outside the nhs needs this).
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My own hospital also uses the same questionnaire :
https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/our-services/a-z-services/pre-operative-assessment-clinic
and this news piece about the hospital and the special relationship with Synopsis and Intouch Health :
North Bristol NHS Trust, which has over 12,000 staff delivering healthcare across Southmead Hospital, Cossham Hospital and Bristol Centre for Enablement, also recently launched Version 7 of the Intouch operating software to further boost the digital transformation of its outpatient department.
Sharon Gater, Director of Account Services at Intouch with Health said: “We are extremely pleased the team at North Bristol NHS Trust is continuing to achieve the benefits of the Intouch platform and have decided to renew their relationship with us for a further two years”.
Sharon added: “The Trust benefits from a joined-up approach where its outpatient patient flow technology and pre-operative assessment questionnaire technology (the Synopsis Platform) is delivered through one supplier, making for a strong working relationship and a collaborative approach to problem solving.”
Greg Patel-Harris, Project Manager from North Bristol NHS Trust says “The Intouch with Health check-in kiosks have improved patient flow into the hospital as well as the patient experience and patient safety when attending their outpatient appointments. It gives patients the flexibility of choosing when and how to check in.”
Intouch with Health and Synopsis are both part of VitalHub UK.
Phase one of the upgrade included the re-launch of Intouch’s patient self Check-in, Flow Manager and patient Calling modules to staff and services, with phase two set to incorporate further integration work with the Trust’s Lorenzo Patient Administration System (PAS).
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This is the scam medical company - IN TOUCH WITH HEALTH (also known as Synopsis Home and Vital Health)
https://www.intouchwithhealth.co.uk/our-solutions/synopsis-home-pre-op-assessments/
WARNING
This has nothing to do with the NHS and your medical data and personal information isn't protected !
This is their Privacy Policy :
https://www.intouchwithhealth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ITWH-Privacy-Policy.pdf
They say they have a DPO (data protection officer) in this policy, but under the ICO they aren't listed on the ICO website at the regulator.
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The ICO - data protection regulator uk
You can check yourself to see if this company is listed and has a DPO (data protection officer) in place:
https://ico.org.uk/ESDWebPages/Search
and read about it here:
https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/what-we-do/register-of-fee-payers/
I've done the check. It's NOT listed. Patients are therefore NOT protected and their Medical and Personal data isn't protected by this company and the NHS is not connect to this company.
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NHS RECORDS Information
So how do NHS staff access patients medical history and data ? it's by doing it legally, and here's how to do it.
Patient medical records are kept on the NHS Spine and accessed via this service. The service is protected and the NHS doesn't share this data outside of "direct care" including to third parties and for research.
First - What is DIRECT CARE ? within the NHS.
Read this: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/reference-guide#direct-care
Next, you can find out about the Summary Care Record / National Care record - via the following links.
https://digital.nhs.uk/services/national-care-records-service
Watch this video on it: https://vimeo.com/773332414
How it is used
It’s available to all internal NHS staff - using mobile or desktop devices connected to the internet using WiFi, mobile data or an existing Health and Social Care Network (HSCN) connection.NCRS offers multiple access options including biometric authentication, smartcards and multifactor authentiction. Its predecessor, SCRa, is only available using a desktop computer, with Smartcard authentication and an HSCN connection.
User authentication is provided by NHS Care Identity Service 2 (NHS CIS2), the products and services require NHS Credential Management to authenticate in secure modern browsers.
Directiveness
HOW TO TAKE ACTION !
- patients can report Fraud and Scams to the NHS Counter Fraud team. At anytime, you can do it here : https://cfa.nhs.uk/report-fraud
- patients can report fraud to the NHS cyber team, you can contact them here : https://digital.nhs.uk/cyber-and-data-security/incidents-and-alerts/report-an-incident
- patients can report Fraud to Action fraud / police, you can do this here : https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/faq
- patients also need to report the fraud to the management at the NHS trust / ICB / hospital / GP that you attend so that they are made aware of it
- please also report the fraud to the ICO under data protection health care, you can do this here: