Freedom of Information – Publication Scheme
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A Publication Scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information the practice intends to routinely make available. Please click on the link below for details.
Privacy Notice
As your GP surgery we keep records about you, your health and the care we have to provided to you. At times, we may need to share this information with other NHS providers e.g. if you are referred to hospital or need care within the community. Everybody working within the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential and we hold your medical records in strict confidence. For more information on how and why we share your records please read the information below:
Privacy Notice - Patients
Privacy Notice - COVID19
Privacy Notice - Children
Privacy Notice - Candidates
If you have any questions about the sharing of your medical records, please contact the surgery on 01283 732257.
Sharing Your Medical Records
Please click on the link below to access more information about the different ways we share your data. This leaflet also includes a form to enable you to opt out of any of these programmes.
Sharing Your Medical Records
Summary Care Records
The NHS in England has introduced the Summary Care Record, which is used in emergency care. The record contains information about any medicines you are taking, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had, to ensure those caring for you have enough information to treat you safely.
As a patient you have a choice:
- Summary Care Record (core) – this includes basic information such as medication, allergies & sensitivites. Healthcare staff will ask your permission before they look at your record, except in certain circumstances for example if you are unconscious.
- Summary Care Record with additional information – This includes the basic infomration above plus significant medical history and vaccinations. Healthcare staff will ask your permission before they look at your record, except in certain circumstances for example if you are unconscious.
- No Summary Care Record – You can choose to not have a Summary Care Record at all
For more information visit https://digital.nhs.uk/services/summary-care-records-scr .You can choose not to have a Summary Care Record and you can change your mind at any time by informing the surgery.
NHS National Data Opt-Out Programme
The current NHS Digital (NHSD) extract of GP data for Research purposes (known as the GPDPR) has been delayed due to NHSD wishing to review the way in which this data will be collected, to conduct more public involvement and information about the plans and change the way in which patients can opt out of the extract of their GP data.
Currently the only way to opt out is to complete a Type 1 opt out form (available on our website) and return this to the practice by the 1st September. However, this extract will not be taken until the NHSD have changed the way it will take the data and respect the patient’s choice for using their data. NHSD are introducing the following changes to the opt out process which will mean that patients will be able to change their opt-out status at any time:
• Patients do not need to register a Type 1 opt-out by 1st September to ensure their GP data will not be uploaded.
• NHS Digital will create the technical means to allow GP data that has previously been uploaded to the system via the GPDPR collection to be deleted when someone registers a Type 1 opt-out.
• The plan to retire Type 1 opt-outs will be deferred for at least 12 months while we get the new arrangements up and running and will not be implemented without consultation with the RCGP, the BMA and the National Data Guardian.
This means that you can opt out at any time in the future and NHSD will delete data that they already have taken for research purposes, the deadline of the 01/09/2020 has been delayed until a new system of opt out is developed. Hopefully, this will be a simple centralised approach via the NHS app or NHS website to avoid paper form and administration work for your GP. We will update you when we know more about the NHSD plans to change how you can control who has access to your data.
For more information about this see the GP Practice Privacy Notice for General Practice Data for Planning and Research or visit:
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-collections-and-data-sets/data-collections/general-practice-data-for-planning-and-research
What data is shared:
Data may be shared from the GP medical records about:
any living patient registered at a GP practice in England when the collection started - this includes children and adults
any patient who died after 1 July 2021, and was previously registered at a GP practice in England when the data collection started
NHS Digital will not collect patients’ names or addresses. Any other data that could directly identify patients (such as NHS Number, date of birth, full postcode) is replaced with unique codes which are produced by de-identification software before the data is shared with NHS Digital.
This process is called pseudonymisation and means that patients will not be identified directly in the data. NHS Digital will be able to use the software to convert the unique codes back to data that could directly identify patients in certain circumstances, and where there is a valid legal reason.
If you would prefer that your identifiable patient data is only shared for your own health care purposes, you can opt-out by registering a Type 1 Opt-out or a National Data Opt-out, or both.
These opt-outs are different and they are explained in more detail below. Your individual care will not be affected if you opt-out using either option (or both).
- A Type 1 opt out has to be registered by your Practice; please print a copy of the form below and drop it in to the surgery
- A National Opt out can be done without contacting your practice, at https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/
Type 1 Opt Out Form