Data Protection
We are obliged to comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 and other guidance on privacy and data confidentiality, which we take very seriously. In order to provide care we are obliged to keep records of all medical information, which is kept either in paper form or stored on computer.
In order to manage services and improve the quality of patient care we proved we are sometimes asked to share information on practice activity with the CHP pharmacist, Health Board, Common Service Agency and the Scottish Executive. Whenever possible this information is anonymised.
Information is not shared with any third party outside the Health Service without your written consent. We are obliged by law to provide certain information, such as notification of certain infectious diseases. If you require further information regarding data protection please contact the practice manager.
Data sharing
The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:
- To provide further medical treatment for you, such as from district nurses and hospital services.
- To help you get other services, such as from the social work department. This requires your consent.
When we have a duty to others, such as in child protection cases anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services, such as for diabetic care. If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way please let us know by contacting the practice.
Personal 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, such as GP, health visitor, practice nurse. This information may be stored on paper or electronically on computer files 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 regional and national programmes such as the cervical cytology screening service and your name and address, date of birth and health number will be given to them in order to send an invitation to you.
We need to use some of your personal health information for administrative purposes. In order to receive payment for services provided to you, we have to disclose basic details about you to the NHS Board responsible for this area and to the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service.
These organisations have a role in protecting public funds and are authorised to check that payments are being properly made. We are required to co-operate with these checks and disclosure of your data is a necessary part of our provision of healthcare services.
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. Whenever we take part in activities such as these we will ensure as far as possible any details that may identify you are not disclosed. Where you need a service provided jointly with a local authority we will seek your permission before giving them your details.
Sometimes we are required by law to pass on information, such as the notification to the government of births and deaths and certain diseases or crimes is a legal requirement. 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 NHS 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.