| Data Protection and
Your Medical Records
Data Protection
The practice fully complies with the Data Protection Act 1998. Under
the act patients have a right to be informed whether personal data
about them is being processed and have the right to access to the
data. Patients can review the data processed and formal applications
for access should be made in writing to the Practice Manager. A fee
may be charged for this.
How Your Records Are Used to Help Us
As you know your doctors and the team of health professionals caring
for you keep records about your health and the care you receive from
the National Health Service. These are important to help ensure that
you receive the best possible care from us.
Your records are used in the following ways to guide and administer
the care you receive:
-
To ensure that your doctor or nurse has
accurate and up to date information to assess your health
and decide what care you need when you visit in the future
-
To ensure that full information is available
should you see another doctor or be referred to a specialist
or another part of the NHS
-
To ensure that there is a good basis for
looking back and checking on the type and quality of care
you receive
Your records also help to plan NHS services for the
future and ensure that there is a good basis for checking that NHS
money has been well spent and that staff are paid for the work they
have done.
Whilst always preserving confidentiality, your records can also help
us to help you by:
-
Assisting with the teaching and training of
health care professionals( you choose whether or not to be
involved)
-
Assisting with health research (if you need
to be personally involved with the research you will be
contacted and asked whether you are willing to participate.
You will not be identified without your agreement)
Keeping
Your Records Confidential
Your doctors their staff and everyone else working for the NHS have
a legal duty to maintain the highest level of confidentiality about
patient information. In some instances you may be receiving care
from other people as well as the NHS. We may need to share some
information about you with them so that we can work together for
your benefit. Anyone who receives confidential information about you
from us is also under a legal duty of confidence. Unless there are
exceptional circumstances, for example, when the health or safety of
others is at risk, we will not disclose information about you to
third parties without your permission. We will only give your
relatives, friends and carers information if you want us to.
In certain circumstances we are required by law to report
information to the appropriate authorities. For example:
-
Notification of new births
-
Where we encounter infectious diseases which
may endanger the safety of others (e.g. meningitis or
measles, but not HIV/AIDS)
-
Where a formal court order has been issued
This information is only provided after formal
authority has been given by a qualified health professional.
“Our guiding principal is that we are holding your records in
strict confidence”
Copying Letters to Patients
It is practice policy to make copies of any referral letters sent to
specialist available to the patient. If you would like a copy of a
referral letter please speak to the doctor.
Freedom of Information
The surgery conforms to the requirements of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. We have produced a publication scheme in
accordance with the Act, a copy of which is available from
Reception.
CARE RECORD GUARANTEE
Click here to download the NHS Care Record Guarantee document (PDF file).
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