Your information:- what you need to know This privacy notice explains why we (my clinical colleagues and our administrative support team) collect information about you, how that information may be used and how we keep it safe and confidential.
Why we collect information about you Health care professionals who provide you with care are required by law to maintain records about your health and any treatment or care you have received. These records help to provide you with the best possible healthcare. We collect and hold data for the sole purpose of providing healthcare services to our patients.
In carrying out this role we may collect information about you which helps us respond to your queries or secure specialist services. We may keep your information in written form and/or in digital form. The records may include basic details about you, such as your name and address.
Details we collect about you The health care professionals who provide you with care maintain records about your health and any treatment or care you have received previously (eg. NHS Trust, GP Surgery, Walk-in clinic, etc.). These records help to provide you with the best possible healthcare.
Records which we may hold about you may include the following: Details about you, such as your address and next of kin Any contact the clinic has had with you, such as appointments, clinic visits, emergency appointments, etc. Notes and reports about your health Details about your treatment and care Results of investigations, such as laboratory tests, x-rays, etc. Relevant information from other health professionals, relatives or those who care for you
How we keep your information confidential and safe Information provided in confidence will only be used for the purposes advised, with consent given by you, unless there are other circumstances covered by the law. As a matter of good practice we comply with The NHS Digital Code of Practice on Confidential Information which states that we will protect your information, inform you of how your information will be used, and allow you to decide if and how your information can be shared. We will make sure information is kept confidential and that we receive annual training on how to do this.
Your health records may be electronic, on paper or a mixture of both, and we use a combination of working practices and technology to ensure that your information is kept confidential and secure. Your records are backed up securely and the information is kept in secure locations, is protected by appropriate security and access is restricted to authorised personnel.
We are committed to protecting your privacy and will only use information collected lawfully in accordance with: Data Protection Act 1998 General Data Protection Regulation 2018 Human Rights Act Common Law Duty of Confidentiality NHS Codes of Confidentiality and Information Security Health and Social Care Act 2015
We maintain our duty of confidentiality to you at all times. We will only ever use or pass on information about you if others involved in your care have a genuine need for it. We will not disclose your information to any third party without your permission unless there are exceptional circumstances (i.e. life or death situations), or where the law requires information to be passed on.
How we use your information As part of your medical treatment I will prepare reports for circulation to other healthcare providers involved in your care eg your GP, other specialist consultants and, with your permission, to private healthcare insurance companies and national Embassies and Consulates.
You can object to your personal information being shared with other health care providers but if this limits the treatment that you can receive then this will be explained to you at the time.
To ensure you receive the best possible care, your records are used to facilitate the care you receive. Information held about you may be used to help protect the health of the public.
Clinical Audit Information may be used for clinical audit to monitor the quality of the service provided. Where we do this we take strict measures to ensure that individual patients cannot be identified.
Clinical Research Occasionally your information may be requested to be used for research purposes. We will always gain your consent before releasing any information for this purpose. Safeguarding To ensure that adult and children’s safeguarding matters are managed appropriately, access to identifiable information will be shared in some limited circumstances where it’s legally required for the safety of the individuals concerned.
Data Retention We will approach the management of patient records in line with current legal requirements and professional best practice.
Who are our partner organisations? We may also have to share your information, subject to strict agreements on how it will be used, with the following organisations: NHS Trusts / Specialist Trusts Independent Contractors such as dentists, opticians, pharmacists Private Sector Providers Voluntary Sector Providers Social Care Services Other ‘Data Processors’.
We will never share your information outside of health partner organisations without your explicit consent unless there are exceptional circumstances such as when the health or safety of others is at risk, where the law requires it or to carry out a statutory function.
Our guiding principle is that we are holding your records in strictest confidence.
Access to your information Under the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018 everybody has the right to see, or have a copy, of data we hold that can identify you, with some exceptions. You do not need to give a reason to see your data.
If you want to access your data you must make the request in writing. Under special circumstances, some information may be withheld. If you wish to have a copy of the information we hold about you, please contact Professor Roger Williams.
Change of Details It is important that you tell us if any of your details such as your name or address have changed or if any of your details are incorrect, in order for this to be amended. Please inform us of any changes so our records. for you are accurate and up to date. Mobile Numbers & Email Addresses If you provide us with your mobile phone number, we may use this to send you reminders about your appointments or other health screening information.
If you provide us with your email address, we may use this to send you reminders to make an appointment for a review. Please let us know if you do not wish to receive correspondence by email.
Notification Professor Roger Williams is registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), describing the purposes for which he processes personal and sensitive information.
Complaints If you have concerns or are unhappy about any of our services, please contact Professor Roger Williams.
Reviews of and Changes to our Fair Processing Notice We will keep our Fair Processing Notice under regular review. This notice was last reviewed in preparation for GDPR implementation in May 2018.
