Why do we collect information about you?
In order to support your care, health professionals maintain records about you. We take great care to ensure your information is kept securely, that it is up to date, it is accurate and used appropriately. All of our Practice staff are fully trained to understand their legal and professional obligations to protect your information and will only look at your information if they need to. They will only look at what they need to in order to do things like book you an appointment, give general health advice, provide you with care and if necessary refer you on to other services.
What information do we hold about you?
- Your age, contact details and next of kin
- Details of your appointments, clinic visits etc.
- Records about your health, illness, treatment and care
- Results of investigations, like laboratory tests, x-rays, etc.
- Information from other health professionals
When is your information shared?
We will only use or pass on information about you to other health professionals to support your care. If we feel that it is in your best interests to share your information with someone else e.g. Social Care or a Voluntary Organisation that could support you we will ask your permission to do so. Everyone who has access to your information is required by Law to keep it confidential. We will not disclose your information to anyone else without your permission unless in exceptional circumstances e.g. a life or death situation. We are also required by law to share certain information such as the birth of a new baby, infectious diseases that may put you or others at risk or where a Court has decided we must.
You have the choice to share or not to share
You can ask for all or some of your information not to be shared outside of the practice. If you decide not to share at all this will not affect your entitlement to care. However, it may result in the delivery of your care being less efficient as other health professionals will not see your full medical history. If you have any concerns about how your information is shared or held, please contact the Practice Manager.
How your records are stored
Our practice uses an electronic clinical records programme called SystmOne which is where all of your information will be stored unless we hold paper records about you which will remain on paper. Because other GP’s in too it means we can share information electronically and securely about your care to support you more effectively. Other services that use SystmOne will ask your permission to see your information when they first see you.
Access to your health information
You have a right to access or view information the practice holds about you, and to have it amended or removed should it be inaccurate. You can make what is called a ‘Subject Access Request’ and we will:
- describe the information we hold about you
- tell you why we are holding that information
- tell you who it might be shared with
- at your request, provide a copy of the information in an easy to read form
If you would like to make a ‘Subject Access Request’, please contact the Practice Manager.
Can my information be used for any other reason?
The NHS currently uses your information in an anonymous and safe way to:
- protect the health of the public
- help us anticipate, plan and provide care
- audit and monitor and evaluate the quality of services provided
Information used for these purposes will not identify you but if you would like further details about this, or if you do not want us to use your information in this way, please contact the Practice Manager.