Health Records, Confidentiality & Acccess
Privacy & Health Records
1. Patient Privacy Notice
Purpose: This is the formal, comprehensive privacy notice explaining how 306 Medical Centre collects, uses, stores and shares personal information.
Please Click Here for Privacy Notice of : Southeast London ICB
Health Records, Confidentiality and Access
What is a health record?
Health records contain information about your health and the care you receive.
They may be held electronically, on paper, or in a combination of formats.
What information is contained in my record?
Your record may include:
- Personal details
- Appointments and contacts with the Practice
- Consultation and clinical notes
- Diagnoses and health conditions
- Allergies and adverse reactions
- Medicines and prescriptions
- Test and investigation results
- Hospital letters and reports
- Referrals and correspondence
- Information from other healthcare professionals
- Relevant information provided by carers or family members
Why do we keep health records?
The primary purpose of your record is to support your care.
Your information helps healthcare professionals:
- understand your medical history;
- make appropriate clinical decisions;
- provide safe treatment;
- prescribe medicines safely;
- arrange referrals and investigations;
- coordinate your care with other services; and
- monitor and manage your ongoing health.
Can my information be used for other purposes?
Yes. In certain circumstances, information may also be used to:
- improve healthcare services;
- monitor the quality of care;
- plan NHS services;
- support public health;
- undertake clinical audit;
- identify patients who may benefit from additional care;
- undertake approved research; and
- meet legal and regulatory requirements.
Different legal requirements apply depending on how information is being used.
Health records play an important role in modern healthcare. They have two main functions, which are described as either primary or secondary.
Confidentiality
We take the confidentiality of your information seriously.
Everyone working for or on behalf of the Practice who has access to patient information has a duty to maintain confidentiality.
Access is restricted to authorised people who have a legitimate need to access information for their role.
This includes appropriate clinical and administrative staff. Staff are only permitted to access information necessary for their work.
We comply with the:
- UK GDPR;
- Data Protection Act 2018;
- common law duty of confidentiality;
- Human Rights Act 1998; and
- relevant NHS information governance and confidentiality requirements.
Sharing information with other healthcare professionals
Your information may need to be shared with other healthcare professionals involved in your care.
This may include:
- hospitals;
- community services;
- NHS 111;
- ambulance services;
- pharmacists;
- other GP practices;
- mental health services;
- social care;
- Primary Care Networks; and
- other organisations providing care to you.
Sharing relevant information can help ensure that the person treating you has the information they need to provide safe and effective care.
NHS Website – Your Health Records
London Care Record
306 Medical Centre participates in the London Care Record.
The London Care Record allows authorised health and care professionals involved in your care to securely view relevant information from different health and care organisations.
This can help professionals access important information when and where it is needed.
Access is restricted to authorised users with a legitimate reason to access your information.
More information: Local Care Record Key Facts
NHS App and Online Access to Your GP Record
You can use the NHS App and other approved online services to access information from your GP record.
Depending on your access arrangements, this may include:
- appointments;
- medicines;
- test results;
- allergies;
- health conditions;
- consultation information;
- documents and correspondence.
Online access is intended to help you understand and participate in your healthcare.
Important information about online access
Your medical record is primarily a professional clinical record. It may contain:
- medical terminology;
- abbreviations;
- information that is difficult to understand;
- information about other people; or
- information that you may find unexpected or upsetting.
If you have concerns about information you see, please contact the Practice in writing rather than booking an appointment solely to request a change to your record.
Online Services Records Access Patient Information Leaflet and Form
https://306medicalcentre.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/306-Medical-Centre-Online-Guide-with-Consent-Form-2016-webversion.pdf
Can information in my medical record be changed?
Your health record must accurately reflect the care provided and the information available to the healthcare professional at the time.
You can ask us to correct factual inaccuracies.
However, you do not have an unrestricted right to have clinical information or professional opinions removed simply because you disagree with them.
If appropriate, we may:
- correct factual information;
- add clarification;
- add a statement explaining your position; or
- restrict access to information where there is a lawful reason to do so.
Requests will be considered by the appropriate member of the clinical team.
Accessing Your Health Records
You have a right to request access to your personal information, including your health record.
This is known as a Subject Access Request (SAR).
You can request a copy of your records through the Practice.
We may need to verify your identity before providing information.
Further information is available on our:Access to Health Records and Subject Access Requests Policy
Children and Young People’s Records
Children and young people have their own rights to confidentiality.
Parents or people with parental responsibility do not automatically have unrestricted access to a child’s health record.
Requests for access will be considered according to:
- the child’s age;
- understanding and capacity;
- parental responsibility;
- the child’s wishes;
- confidentiality requirements; and
- safeguarding considerations.
How is my information used to improve NHS services?
Information from health records may be used to help:
- plan healthcare services;
- understand population health;
- improve the quality of healthcare;
- monitor disease;
- support public health;
- undertake approved research; and
- identify patients who may benefit from preventative care.
Where appropriate, information will be anonymised or otherwise protected.
Keeping Your Information Up to Date
Please tell us if your:
- name;
- address;
- telephone number;
- email address; or
- other relevant details
change.
Accurate information helps us provide safe care and contact you appropriately.
Your NHS Data Matters
Use this service to request that your confidential patient information is not used beyond your own individual care.
If you decide to opt out, this will be respected and applied by NHS Digital and Public Health England. These organisations collect, process and release health and adult social care data on a national basis. Your decision will also be respected and applied by all other organisations that are responsible for health and care information.
An opt-out will only apply to the health and care system in England. This does not apply to your health data where you have accessed health or care services outside of England, such as in Scotland and Wales.
If you choose to opt out, your data may still be used during some specific situations. For example, during an epidemic where there might be a risk to other people’s health.
Under data protection law we must tell you about how we use your personal information. This includes the personal information that we share with other organisations and why we do so. Our main GP practice privacy notice is above. This additional privacy notice provides details about the personal information that we are sharing with NHS Digital for its General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection: Click Here
