GDPR/Data Protection

Information Governance

How we handle your information

Caring

Your health record contains facts about your health, including:

Appointments
Treatments and test results
The professional opinions of the staff caring for you. These are used by staff to ensure they can offer you good care and treatment. Your records will only be used by staff treating you or administration staff who may book your appointments.

When you require care it is often the case that several organisations will be involved in providing it. To enable this to happen smoothly, information about you is shared between the staff in the organisations caring for you. The NHS works with many partner agencies such as Social Services, Education, Housing and the voluntary sector. Staff should discuss with you, what information they are sharing and why. You can always ask if you have any concerns.

Sometimes it may be very important for your information to be shared in order to prevent you or someone else coming to harm. We only share information in such situations where we have either spoken to you, or where it is vital to do so quickly, and we are unable to talk to you.

There are also a few laws that require the NHS to share information such as child protection cases, controlling infectious disease and protecting vulnerable individuals.

Working

In addition to providing the care you need, the NHS uses information for a number of other important activities such as research, quality monitoring and developing services.

When information is used for these activities we will remove your name and address. We may use a reference number instead so you are not identified. You may be invited to participate in research studies. All research is approved by a â€˜Research Ethics Committeeâ€™ before it can start and there are detailed checks over how patient information will be handled. Details about your health will not be passed to researchers unless you choose to take part.

Reassuring

All staff receive training and regular updates about how to handle your information. They are all bound by a legal duty to keep information confidential. Information about you stored on any media is subject to very strict security controls. Regular security audits of computer systems, and procedures to collect and store data, take place to ensure that everything is working well.

How we use your information

We keep information about you, such as your name and address, the treatments you receive and who saw you, on both paper and computer records.

Caring, by monitoring the quality of care provided
Sharing, to give you good care and treatment
Working, to plan new services
Reassuring, to check services are efficient and effective

Keep us up to date

Out of date or wrong information could lead to mistakes being made with your care. It is important that we have up to date information about you. If any of your circumstances change, please tell us the next time you see us. On occasion, we will ask you to confirm your details so we have up to date records. If you are unable to provide up to date details, we may ask people who accompany you, such as your relatives.

More information

Further details are available from www.ig.nhs.uk.

If you have any concerns, speak to the person in charge of your care or contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service for your area.

Bristol: 0117 900 3433
Gloucestershire: 08000 151 548
South Gloucestershire: 0800 073 0907

Your Data Matters to the NHS

Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe and always being clear about how it is used.

How your data is used

Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnoses is collected about you whenever you use health and care services. It is also used to help us and other organisations for research and planning such as research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of doctors and nurses in your local hospital. It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations.

Wherever possible we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.

You have a choice

You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used. If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or through a telephone service. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?

No, choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.

What do you need to do?

If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you do not need to do anything.

To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters

Summary Care Record

There is a new Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). It is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.

Why do I need a Summary Care Record?

Storing information in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.

This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe for you.

Who can see it?

Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record.

How do I know if I have one?

Over half of the population of England now have a Summary Care Record. You can find out whether Summary Care Records have come to your area by looking at our interactive map or by asking your GP

Do I have to have one?

No, it is not compulsory. If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery. You can use the form at the foot of this page.