Your Information - What you need to know

Why we collect information about you

• Basic details about you, such as address and next of kin
• Contacts we have had with you, such as clinic visits
• Notes and reports about your health and any treatment you have received
• Details and records about the treatment and care you receive
• Results of investigations, such as X-rays and laboratory tests
• Relevant information from other health professionals.

How this information is used to help you

• Your doctor, nurse or other health professional involved in your care has accurate and up-to-date information to assess your health and decide what care you need
• Full information is available if you see another doctor, or are referred to a specialist or another part of the NHS
• There is a good basis for assessing the type and quality of care you have received
• Your concerns can be properly investigated if you need to complain

How this information is used to help the NHS

• Assess the needs of the general population
• The NHS run efficiently
• The NHS plan for the future
• The NHS teach and train healthcare professionals
• Pay your GP, dentist and hospital for the care they provide
• Audit NHS accounts and services
• Carry out medical and other health research for the benefit of everyone

Some of this information will be held centrally, but where this is used for statistical purposes stringent measures are taken to ensure that individual patients cannot be identified. Anonymous information may also be passed to organisations with a legitimate interest, including universities and other research organisations.

Where it is not possible to use anonymised information, personally identifiable information may be used for essential NHS purposes. These may include research and auditing purposes. This will only be done with your consent, unless the law requires information to be passed on to improve public health.

How we keep your records confidential

You may be receiving care from other people as well as the NHS. So that we can all work together for your benefit we may need to share some information about you. We only ever use or pass on information about you if people have a genuine need for it in yours and everyone's interests. Whenever we can we shall remove details which identify you.

If you agree, your relative, friend or carers will be kept up to date with the progress of treatment if applicable.

We will not disclose your information to third parties without your permission unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as when health or safety of others are at risk or where the law requires the information to be passed on.

Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential.

How you can get access to your own health records

If you want to see them you should make a written request to the NHS organisations where you are being, or have been, treated. You are entitled to receive a copy but should note a charge will usually be made. You should be aware that in certain circumstances your right to see some details in your health records may be limited in your own interest of for other reasons.

Further Information

This information is also available to download as a leaflet Here

Freedom of Information Act