Use and Disclosure of Health Information
To provide you with the care you need, we hold the details of your consultations, illnesses, tests, prescriptions, and other treatments that have been recorded by everyone involved in your care and treatment (e.g. GP, Health Visitor, Practice Nurse). This information may be stored on paper or electronically on computer file by practice staff.
We sometimes disclose some of your personal health information to other organisations involved in your care. For example, when your GP refers you to a specialist at the hospital we will send relevant details about you in the referral letter and receive information about you from them. Our practice also participates in local programmes such as the cervical cytology screening service, and your name and address, date of birth, and HSS number will be given to them in order to send an invitation to you.
Sometimes we may participate in studies that are designed to improve the way services are provided to you or to check that our performance meets required standards and benchmarks. Whenever we take part in activities such as these we will ensure that as far as possible any details that may identify you are not disclosed.
We are sometimes involved in the teaching of A level students, student nurses, doctors and other health professionals. We will not use or disclose your personal health information unless you have been informed beforehand and given your consent for us to do so.
Should a patient make a complaint, the Practice may need to provide information about the patient and treatment they have received, to insurers or legal advisers.
Sometimes we are required by law to pass on information (e.g. notification of births and deaths, certain infectious diseases, certain serious criminal offences).
Our use of your personal health information is covered by a duty of confidentiality, and is regulated by the Data Protection Act. The Data Protection Act gives you a number of rights in relation to how your personal information is used, including a right to access the information we hold about you.
Everyone working for the Practice has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential, and adheres to a Code of Practice on Protecting Patient confidentiality. Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential.
If you have any queries or concerns on how we use your personal health information, or would like to access your information, please contact our Practice Manager in the first instance.
Personal data relating to Patients, whether obtained from the Patient or from any other source, will be retained by the Practice for the purposes of providing healthcare and related services both inside and outside of the Practice.
Personal data will be forwarded to other persons for the purpose of referrals and for other lawful purposes related to the Practice procedures. Should a patient make a complaint, the practice may need to provide information about the patient, and treatment they have received, to insurers or legal advisers.
Sometimes we are required by law to pass on information (e.g notification of births and deaths, certain infectious diseases, and certain serious criminal offences.