Confidentiality

Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential

Sometimes the law requires the NHS to pass on information, for example, to notify a birth. The NHS Central Register for England and Wales contains basic personal details of all patients registered with a general practitioner. The register does not contain clinical information. You may be receiving care from other people as well as the NHS, so that we can all work together for your benefit we may need to share some information about you. The sharing of sensitive information is strictly controlled by law, and anyone who receives information from us also has a legal duty to keep it confidential.

As required by law, we are registered with the Data Protection Commissioner. You have a right of access to your records under the 2018 Data Protection Act. Please speak to any of the receptionists as there may be a charge for this service.

All patients registered with the practice are automatically offered online access to their medical records, please ask any of the receptionists for details.

The practice is committed to continuously improving its IT systems to enable us to maintain up-to-date information and accurate patient records. All stored data is subject to the data protection act. We only ever use or pass on information about you if people have a genuine need for it in your and everyone’s interests. Whenever we can we shall remove details which identify you. The sharing of some types of very sensitive personal information is strictly controlled by law. If your doctor is requested to report information to external agencies such as solicitors or insurance companies, he/she will only do so with your explicit consent.

This practice uses EMIS Web Software, a computerised medical record system. Storing records on the computer can help us to monitor and audit our performance so that we provide the best possible care. Your registration details are held on the computer, along with the medical information from consultations.

Anonymised health information is sent to NHS England to monitor quality standards and for post-payment verification purposes. All this information is covered by the Data Protection Act. We ask you for information so that you can receive proper care and treatment. We keep this information together with details of your care because it may be needed if we see you again. Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.