Your confidential patient information
Confidential patient information identifies you and says something about your health care or treatment. Information that only identifies you like your name and address is not confidential patient information.
Using your confidential patient information
Your confidential patient information is used in two different ways:
Your individual care
Health and care professionals may use your confidential patient information to help with your treatment and care. For example, when you visit your GP, they may access your records for important information about your health.
Research and planning
Confidential patient information is also used to:
- plan and improve health and care services
- research and develop cures for serious illnesses
Where you have a choice
If you don’t want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can opt out of this. Your confidential patient information will still be used to support your individual care. Any choice you set using this service will not change this.
Please visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters
How Do We Maintain The Confidentiality Of Your Records?
We are committed to protecting your privacy and will only use information collected lawfully in accordance with:
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Common Law Duty of Confidentiality
• Health and Social Care Act 2012
• NHS Codes of Confidentiality, Information Security and Records Management
• Information: To Share or Not to Share Review
Every member of staff who works for an NHS organisation has a legal obligation to keep information about you confidential. All our staff, contractors receives appropriate and on-going training to ensure they are aware of their personal responsibilities and have contractual obligation to uphold confidentiality, enforceable through disciplinary procedures.
