Janepie33 Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Has anyone been asked to take part in the Biobank survey? My OH and I got a letter yesterday asking us to take part. I read mine thoroughly and OH threw his in the recycling! It's a big survey (500, 000 people aged 40 -69) looking at people's health, taking measurements and samples, to help prevent and treat cancer, heart attacks, strokes, dementia and other illnesses in the future. No direct benefit to us people taking part, but may help our children and grandchildren. Just wondered if anyones else has done this yet or is planning to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 I'd be sceptical about giving any deeply personal data to a commercial company. You can get screened for things you know are genetic in your family, and I don't see how it helps on a global scale. But that's just cynical me. What does the bumph say about how it works? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janepie33 Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 I don't think it's a comercial company. It's done in conjunction with the NHS, the Scottish government and the Welsh assembly government and it is set up by the Department of Health. Quite a few people in my area have received letters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Curious... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Palmer Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 We've both got them, but then I see I'm just up the road from you. I've read it through. It looks interesting, but it's the thought of getting to Hounslow to spend 2 hours being prodded and poked and questioned that's off-putting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 but it's the thought of getting to Hounslow That would be enough to put me off, without the poking & prodding ...sorry to anyone who lives in Hounslow, I went to a computer training day many moons ago & it doesn't have great memories for me...the girl I had to go up with was a right dizzy twitterer & I had to concentrate hard on the driving as I was driving the manager's car & she never took breath much less shut up for the entire day Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janepie33 Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 Yes, Hounslow is not the loveliest of places, but quite easy to get to on the tube - plus the Biobank people will pay travel expenses. I phoned them today to change my appointment, but the earliest they could offer me was January. Haven't heard anything about this in the press, but maybe it's early days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/ I think my hubby had a letter about this and he threw his away. I'm not sure if I'd want to do something like this. But then again, I've only just heard about it and would have to read what they are using the information for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 My mother-in-law took part in this recently. As you say she got poked and prodded for a couple of hours, all the usual stuff, height, weight, blood pressure, blood tests. They didn't tell her anything though - you don't get to find out if you have anything nasty lurking in your dna or blood tests. They also get your medical history from your doctor. (You give permission for this) It is quite an invasive process, but the results should remain confidential and I personally think that if it helps track diseases and predict outcomes it is a good thing for the health of future generations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickweed Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 I don't think there is anything to worry about if it benefits future generations and has the backup of the Nhs and Dept of Health. I took part in this about 12 months ago, The only thing that that bothered me on the day was the memory test. I was absolutley rubbish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 We had one of these last year, I was gong to fill it in but other things got in the way and I think I missed the dead line I thought it sounded very interesting, if not a little scary that so much information would be held about me that I didn't have access too Very useful for research though! Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickled egg Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 I have taken part in this and I feel it was worth it. It took about 1.5 - 2 hours. First hour, filling in stuff via a computer - some personal details but you can skip anything you do not want to answer, and some memory tests. The 'prodding and poking' bit is not particularly invasive - height, weight, blood pressure, grip strength, lung strength etc and then a blood sample, wee sample, and saliva sample. I am not saying its nothing but equallly its not that bad and I personally think that we all benefit from this sort of information. They track you as a statistic through your life - and this adds to the overall knowledge for future generations. It is run by the NHS/dept of health and is not a commercial enterprise, but something that we will all benefit from. I do not have children so am not doing it for their sake, I just feel it is a relatively small thing to do for the greater good. Anyone that has ever benefitted from medical advice or intervention in this country has, in effect, used data from previous generations to their benefit, and whilst it may not be perfect, this is the way to move things forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
