How we use your information
To ensure you receive the most appropriate care, your doctor and any other health professional involved with your care hold records about the health, treatment and care you receive from the National Health Service (NHS).
To ensure you receive the most appropriate care, your doctor and any other health professional involved with your care hold records about the health, treatment and care you receive from the National Health Service (NHS).
Information we hold is recorded either within a manual record (written down) or alternatively held electronically on a computer.
Generally, these records include:
How we keep your records confidential
All staff working within the NHS have a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.
However, there may be instances where we may need to share your information with other health professionals or organisations such as social services, multi-disciplinary / healthcare teams and your GP, so that we can work together for your benefit.
We will only ever use or pass on information about you if others involved in your care have a genuine need for it. Anyone who receives information from us also has a legal obligation to keep it confidential.
We will always notify you of this first and gain your permission unless there are exceptional circumstances such as when the health or safety of others is at risk or where the law requires information to be passed on.
However, we are required by law to report certain information to the appropriate authorities. This is only provided after formal permission has been given by a qualified health professional.
Examples include: