In order to support your care, we maintain records about you. Confidentiality is important to us. We take great care to ensure your information is kept securely and used appropriately. Our staff are fully trained to understand their legal and professional obligations to protect your information.
Why we collect information about you
We aim to provide you with the highest quality of care. To do this we keep information on you in your medical records. This includes your basic details and notes about your health, treatment and care. We use these records to make decisions about your health and ensure your care is safe and effective.
Your rights
We are committed to being transparent and accountable for how we use your information. We will discuss what we record about you, give you access to your records and keep you informed and involved in your care plan.
How we keep your personal information safe
We have a duty to maintain full and accurate records of the care we provide; keep records about you confidential, secure and accurate; and provide information in a format that is accessible to you (e.g. in large type if you are partially sighted).
We keep your medical record on the computer and in paper format. We have robust policies in place to protect them.
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. All staff have completed confidentiality and data protection training.
Sharing your information
To share your information we must have a lawful reason to do so. We may securely share your information with hospitals and community health professionals to provide medical treatment for you; social services to help you access social care and support; and when we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases. We may also share information with your family or representative when we have your consent to do so. Anyone who receives information from us also has a legal duty to keep it confidential.
Privacy Notice
The law requires us to share information from your medical records in certain circumstances. Information is shared so that the NHS or Public Health England can plan and manage services; check that the care being provided is safe; and prevent infectious diseases from spreading. We will share information with NHS Digital, the Care Quality Commission and local health protection team (or Public Health England) when the law requires us to do so. We must also share your information if a court of law orders us to do so. Please see our Privacy Notice.
Update for Coronavirus: we have an additional Privacy Notice for Coronavirus.
Summary care record
Your Summary Care Record is a short summary of your GP medical records. It tells other health and care staff who care for you about the medicines you take and your allergies. This means they can give you better care if you need health care away from your usual doctor’s surgery e.g. in an emergency, when you are on holiday, when your surgery is closed, at out-patient clinics or when you visit a pharmacy.
You can choose to have additional information included in your Summary Care Record which can enhance the care you receive including:
- health problems like dementia or diabetes
- operations and vaccinations you have had in the past
- details of your carer
- your treatment preferences
- communication needs, for example if you have hearing difficulties or need an interpreter
To include the above additional information to your Summary Care Record, contact a receptionist. Find out more.
Update for Coronavirus: During the Covid19 pandemic practices have been told to share details of patients personal confidential and special category data onto the summary care record. Find out more. Patients have the right to opt out of having their information shared with the SCR by completion of the form which can be downloaded here and returned to the practice. Please note that by opting out of having your information shared with the Summary Care Record could result in a delay care that may be required in an emergency.
National Data Opt Out: Research & Planning
Anonymised patient information will be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care. If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, you can opt out via the National Data Opt Out. Visit https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/ and complete the online opt out form.
Freedom of Information
Information about the General Practitioners 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.
