MedConfidential

What MedConfidential does

MedConfidential is an independent, donation-funded patient advocacy non-profit founded in 2013 in Lewes, United Kingdom, focused on protecting the confidentiality of medical records within NHS health and social care data systems. The organization does not sell products or services and does not develop technology; rather, it produces policy analysis, opt-out guidance for patients, briefings for GPs, and public commentary on NHS data-sharing schemes including care.data (2013–2016), GP Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR, 2021), the Federated Data Platform (FDP), and the proposed Single Patient Record (SPR, 2024–2026). It is led by Coordinator Phil Booth and Sam Smith, who sign official communications and bulletins.

Its operational scope is restricted to England, where it provides opt-out form letters, a "loopholes scorecard" of NHS data programmes, and analyses of how centralized records affect patient trust and clinical discretion. Distribution is entirely digital — through its WordPress website, a free Substack newsletter, and Facebook, X (Twitter), and Bluesky accounts — and the organization relies on individual donations processed via Stripe and PayPal, explicitly stating it holds zero grants. The business has no headcount growth signals, no commercial partnerships, no AI or technology build-out, and operates as a focused single-issue campaign rather than a scaling enterprise.

Name

MedConfidential

Legal name

medConfidential

Website

https://medconfidential.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

MedConfidential is an independent UK patient advocacy non-profit that campaigns for medical record confidentiality in NHS data systems, providing opt-out guidance and policy analysis to patients, GPs, and policymakers in England. It is donation-funded and runs no commercial products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lewes

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MedConfidential is a non-profit advocacy organization that campaigns to protect the confidentiality of NHS patient data in the United Kingdom. It provides independent, non-commercial advice and guidance to patients, GPs, and policymakers on health data sharing, opt-out rights, and the lawful processing of medical records. The organization monitors data-extraction programmes such as care.data and supports individuals in exercising their right to object to data disclosures.

Product overview

MedConfidential is a campaign and advocacy organization focused on protecting patient confidentiality in NHS health and social care data systems. The organization does not offer commercial products or software; rather, it provides public guidance, briefings for patients and healthcare professionals, opt-out form letters, and policy analysis concerning NHS data sharing schemes including care.data, GP Data for Planning and Research, the Federated Data Platform, and Single Patient Record proposals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Privacy International: UK-based charity that litigates and campaigns on data privacy, including health and surveillance issues. Operates in the same advocacy space as MedConfidential with overlapping donor bases and parliamentary engagement.
• Foundation for Information Policy Research (FIPR): UK-based independent body studying information policy. Co-filed the 2014 ICO complaint alongside MedConfidential and operates as a peer in NHS data policy advocacy.
• Open Rights Group: UK digital civil liberties organization campaigning on privacy, data protection, and government data use. Comparable in operating model—small donation-funded nonprofit focused on policy advocacy rather than commercial service delivery.
• Big Brother Watch: UK civil liberties and privacy advocacy organization. Explicitly co-filed the 2014 ICO complaint with MedConfidential regarding PA Consulting's HES data handling, making it a direct advocacy peer in NHS patient data privacy.

Others

• National Voices: UK coalition of health and care charities influencing NHS policy. Thematically adjacent—patient advocacy in the NHS space—but focused on broader service-user voice rather than data confidentiality specifically.
• Healthwatch England: Statutory body that gathers public views on health and social care in England. Operates as an adjacent patient-advocacy entity in the same NHS ecosystem, though formally constituted and government-sponsored rather than independent.

Emerging players

• The Patients Association: UK charity advocating for patient rights and access to safe care. Comparable donor-funded patient advocacy posture, though broader in scope and less focused on data confidentiality than MedConfidential.

Broad incumbents

• Electronic Frontier Foundation: Established US-based digital rights nonprofit covering privacy, surveillance, and data protection. Comparable operating model and mission but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic scope than MedConfidential.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/medConfidential
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.medConfidential.org/how-to-opt-out

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MedConfidential