Confidentiality

Keeping your records CONFIDENTIAL

We respect your right to privacy and keep all information confidential and secure. It is important that the NHS keeps accurate and up-to-date records about your health and treatment so that those treating you can give you the best possible care.

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 e.g. from District Nurses and Hospital Services
  • To help you get other services e.g. from the Social Work Department. This requires your consent
  • When we have a duty to others e.g. 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 e.g. for Diabetic Care.

Reception and Administration Staff require access to your medical records in order to do their work. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.

You have a right to know what information we hold about you. If you would like to see your records, please contact reception. Our guiding principal is that we are holding your records in strict confidence.

How Your Records Are Used To Help Us 

As you know, your Doctor and the team of Health Professionals caring for you keep records about your health and the care you receive from the National Health Service.  These are important to help ensure that you receive the best possible care from us.

Your records are use in the following ways to guide and administer the care you receive:

  • To ensure that your Doctor or Nurse has accurate and up to date information to assess your health and decide what care you need when you visit in the future.
  • To ensure that full information is available should you see another Doctor or be referred to a Specialist or another part of the NHS.
  • To ensure that there is a good basis for looking back and checking on the type and quality of the care you receive.
  • To ensure that your concerns can be properly investigated if you need to complain.

Your records also help to plan NHS services for the future and ensure that there is a good basis for checking that NHS money has been well spent and that staff are paid for the work they have done.

Whilst always preserving confidentiality, your records can also help us to help you by:

  • Assisting with the teaching and training of Health Care Professionals (you choose whether or not to be involved).
  • Assisting with health research (if you need to be personally involved with the research you will be contacted and asked whether you are willing to participate.  You will not be identified without your agreement).
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