Confidentiality & Data

 

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Your NHS healthcare record contains important clinical information which can be accessed by or shared with those healthcare professionals who are directly involved in your care. For detailed information about healthcare records, and how it can be used click here.

 

Confidentiality & Medical Records

Woodbury Surgery complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others only in the following circumstances:

  • To provide further medical treatment for you eg. from district nurses and hospital services.
  • To help you get other services eg. from the social work department. This requires your consent.
  • When we have a duty to others eg. in child protection cases
  • Anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the NHS plan services eg. for diabetic care.

If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.

Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.

Click these links to learn about Electronic records

 

Access to Records

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records, this is called a Subject Access Request. You can view parts of your own medical record via SystmOnline, please contact us if you require further access to your medical record or to register for online services. No information will be released without the patient's consent unless we are legally obliged to do so

 
 

Freedom of Information

Information about the General Practioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the practice manager.

 

Sharing NHS Data

How your personal and medical information is used is controlled by law, and strict rules are in place to protect your privacy. Practice staff are legally bound by the same rules of confidentiality as our doctors and nurses.  With the development of information technology the NHS will increasingly be sharing data electronically. Sharing information can improve the quality and safety of care you receive and is in some cases vital to inform life-saving decisions about your treatment.

You will have been asked for your Data Sharing Choices when you registered with the practice.  If you would like to amend your choices please click on the link below and read this leaflet carefully, complete the relevant field(s) on the form and return it to us. Data Sharing choices can also be updated via your SystmOnline account.

Patient Information Sharing Choices

 

National Data Opt-Out Programme

The national data opt-out is a service that allows patients to opt out of their confidential patient information being used for research and planning.

The national data opt-out was introduced on 25 May 2018, enabling patients to opt out from the use of their data for research or planning purposes, in line with the recommendations of the National Data Guardian in her Review of Data Security, Consent and Opt-Outs

Patients can view or change their national data opt-out choice at any time by using the online service at NHS Your Data Matters or by calling 0300 3035678.

More information about the national data opt-out is available here