How Market Rasen Surgery 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. 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), where the law requires information to be passed on and / or in accordance with the new information sharing principle following Dame Fiona Caldicott’s information sharing review (Information to share or not to share) where “The duty to share information can be as important as the duty to protect patient confidentiality.”
This means that health and social care professionals should have the confidence to share information in the best interests of their patients within the framework set out by the Caldicott principles. They should be supported by the policies of their employers, regulators and professional bodies.
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 Out of Hours
- GP’s
- NHS Commissioning Support Units
- Independent Contractors such as dentists, opticians, pharmacists
- Private Sector Providers
- Voluntary Sector Providers
- Ambulance Trusts
- Clinical Commissioning Groups
- Social Care Services
- Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC)
- Local Authorities
- Education Services
- Police & Judicial Services
- Voluntary Sector Providers
- Private Sector Providers
- Other ‘data processors’ which you will be informed of
You will be informed who your data will be shared with and in some cases asked for explicit consent for this to happen when this is required. We may also use external companies to process personal information. These companies are bound by contractual agreements to ensure information is kept confidential and secure.
Access to personal information
You have a right under the Data Protection Act 1998 to request access to view or to obtain copies of what information the surgery holds about you and to have it amended should it be inaccurate.
In order to request this, you need to do the following:
- Your request must be made in writing to the Practice Manager – for information from the hospital you should write direct to them
- We are required to respond to you within 40 days
- You will need to give adequate information (for example full name, address, date of birth, NHS number and details of your request) so that your identity can be verified and your records located.
Should you have any concerns about how your information is managed at the Practice, please contact the Practice Manager. If you are still unhappy following a review by the GP practice, you can then complain to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) via their website (www.ico.gov.uk).
If you are happy for your data to be extracted and used for the purposes described in this privacy notice then you do not need to do anything. If you have any concerns about how your data is shared then please contact the practice.
Change of Details
It is important that you tell the person treating you if any of your details such as your name or address have changed or if any of your details such as date of birth is incorrect in order for this to be amended. You have a responsibility to inform us of any changes so our records are accurate and up to date for you.
Notification
The Data Protection Act 1998 requires organisations to register a notification with the Information Commissioner to describe the purposes for which they process personal and sensitive information. This information is publicly available on the Information Commissioners Office website www.ico.org.uk
Market Rasen Surgery is registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). The certificate is displayed in our Practice at the front of reception.
Who is the Data Controller?
Market Rasen Surgery is the Data Controller and is responsible for keeping your information secure and confidential.Complaints
Should you have any concerns about how your information is managed by the Practice please contact the Practice Manager at the following address:
Market Rasen Surgery
MillRoad
Market Rasen
LN8 3BP
If you’re unhappy with our findings other complaints related organisations NHS Complaints Advocacy Service POhWER provide a free, independent and confidential advocacy service to support people who need help with filling in forms and writing letters for their NHS complaint.
website: http://www.pohwer.net/our-services/nhs-complaints-advocacy
Telephone: 0300 456 2370 Lincolnshire: 0300 200 0084
You have the right to approach the Ombudsman. The contact details are: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Tel: 0345 0154 033
Website: www.ombudsman.org.uk
The Healthcare Commission
Telephone: 0845 601 3012
Fax: 020 7448 9180
Further information in relation to this is available on our website.
