Statement of Purpose /GDPR/Governance/Privacy
The practice is now recording all calls for training and monitoring purposes - Please see our privacy notice for call recording for further information
Please click on the links below to view our notices:
Please see below details with regards to the (1)SUMMARY CARE RECORDS and further down (2)THE CARE DATA EXTRACTION.
(1) NHS Summary Care Records –
The NHS has introduced an improved way of storing and managing important medical information electronically, called Summary Care Records. We are taking part in this scheme which means that, in the future, and with your consent, key information from your GP record will start to become available electronically to NHS staff treating you out of hours or in an emergency.
Summary Care Records will contain key information about your health: details of your allergies, your current prescriptions and whether you have had any bad reactions to medicines.
All registered patients over the age of 16 will receive a letter, information leaflet and an opt- out form through the post which gives you more information.
If you would like to have a Summary Care Record you don’t need to do anything.
If you do not want to have a Summary Care Record, you can opt out by filling in the opt- out form included in your information pack or print one below. You can either post it back to the freepost address on the back of the form or bring it into the surgery.
If you would like more information, please go to the NHS Summary Care Record Website http://www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk/ . > Summary_Care_Record_-_Opt_out.pdf
(2)Care Data
It is anticipated that from early January 2014 Patient information will automatically be extracted from the GP clinical systems - this means that Confidential information from your medical records can be used by the NHS to improve the services offered so the best possible care can be provided for everyone.
The information including your post code and NHS number but not your name are sent to a secure system where it can be linked with other health information.
Patients have a choice - if you are happy for your to be used in this way you do not have to do anything,, if you have any concerns or wish to prevent this from happening please ask for a patient information leaflet.
PATIENT INFORMATION & LEAFLET
A copy can be obtained from reception or click on the document's found here patient_information_leaflet.pdf patient-faqs.pdf, these can be printed for your own information or alternatively you can collect a leaflet from the reception desk.
An “Opt Out” form is also available here shared_data_opt_out.doc or at the reception desk, this gives two opt out options for you to consider and then sign - please ensure this is returned back to reception asap.
Further information about HSCIC (Health & Social Care Information Centre) can be found here .
Introduction
Information about you and the care you receive is shared, in a secure system, by healthcare staff to support your treatment and care.
It is important that we, the NHS, can use this information to plan and improve services for all patients. We would like to link information from all the different places where you receive care, such as your GP, hospital and community service, to help us provide a full picture. This will allow us to compare the care you received in one area against the care you received in another, so we can see what has worked best.
Information such as your postcode and NHS number, but not your name, will be used to link your records in a secure system, so your identity is protected. Information which does not reveal your identity can then be used by others, such as researchers and those planning health services, to make sure we provide the best care possible for everyone.
How your information is used and shared is controlled by law and strict rules are in place to protect your privacy.
We need to make sure that you know this is happening and the choices you have.
Benefits of sharing information
Sharing information can help improve understanding, locally and nationally, of the most important health needs and the quality of the treatment and care provided by local health services. It may also help researchers by supporting studies that identify patterns in diseases, responses to different treatments and potential solutions.
Information will also help to:
• Find more effective ways of preventing, treating and managing illnesses;
• Guide local decisions about changes that are needed to respond to the needs of local patients;
• Support public health by anticipating risks of particular diseases and conditions, and help us to take action to prevent problems;
• Improve the public’s understanding of the outcomes of care, giving them confidence in health and care services; and
• Guide decisions about how to manage NHS resources fairly so that they can best support the treatment and management of illness for the benefit of patients.
What will we do with the information?
We will only use the minimum amount of information we need to help us improve patient care and the services we provide.
We have developed a thorough process that must be followed before any information can be shared. We sometimes release information to approved researchers, if this is allowed under the strict rules in place to protect your privacy. We are very careful with the information and we follow strict rules about how it is stored and used.
We will make sure that the way we use information is in line with the law, national guidance and best practice. Reports that we publish will never identify a particular person.
Privacy Impact Assessment
For patients who wish to understand more about how we protect their data, HSCIC have published a privacy impact assessment for the care.data programme. This document provides details about the privacy implications of the programme (both negative and positive) and explains how we are mitigating each risk. In addition, the HSCIC has published a privacy impact assessment for all the personal data it processes, which includes the data extracted for care.data.
Do I have a choice?
Yes. You have the right to prevent confidential information about you from being shared or used for any purpose other than providing your care, except in special circumstances. If you do not want information that identifies you to be shared outside your GP practice, ask your practice to make a note of this in your medical record. This will prevent your confidential information being used other than where necessary by law, (for example, if there is a public health emergency).
You will also be able to restrict the use of information held by other places you receive care, such as hospitals and community services. You should let your GP know if you want to restrict the use of this information.
Your choice will not affect the care you receive.
Do I need to do anything?
If you are happy for your information to be shared you do not need to do anything. There is no form to fill in and nothing to sign and you can change your mind at any time.
If you have concerns or are not happy for your information to be shared, speak to your GP practice.
Where can I get more information?
Every household in England is receiving the leaflet ‘Better Information means better care leaflet’ during January.
Patient Information Line
The national patient information line went live on 6th January. The five most common questions have been:
- Can I change my mind? (FAQ 12)
- I can’t get to my practice to object, what should I do? (FAQ 10)
- How long have I got to decide if I want to object? (FAQ 11)
- What is the secure environment mentioned in the leaflet? (FAQ 3)
- Do I have to do anything if I want my information to be used? (FAQ 17)
If patients have any questions, please contact the national patient information line (0300 456 3531) or to the patient FAQs.
Accessible formats including Braille, audio and large print are available from the patient information line. In addition, large print and audio formats are available from the patient website. www.nhs.uk/caredata. www.hscic.gov.uk.
Information with subtitles is available at http://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/tsd/care-data/