Page updated: 11 Feb 2011
Data protection
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How we use your health information
Why do we collect information about you?
Your doctor, and the team of healthcare professionals caring for you, keep records about your health and any treatment and care you receive from the NHS.
These records help to ensure that you receive the best possible care. They may be written down (manual records) or held on a computer. These records may include:
- Basic details about you, such as address, date of birth, next of kin.
- Contact we have had with you, such as clinic visits.
- Notes and reports about your treatment and care.
- Results of X-rays, laboratory tests etc.
- Relevant information from people who care for you and know you well such as health professionals and relatives.
How are your records used to help you?
Your records are used to guide and administer the care you receive to ensure that:
- Your doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional involved in your care has accurate and up-to-date information to assess your health and decide what care you need when you visit in the future.
- There is good information for health professionals to assess and help improve the type and quality of care you receive.
- Your concerns can be properly investigated if you need to complain.
How can your records be used to improve the NHS?
Your information may also be used in the following ways:
- To help protect the health of the public.
To help us manage the NHS by being used to:
- Pay your GP, dentist and hospital for the care you receive.
- Audit NHS accounts and services.
- Clinical Audit.
- Investigate patient queries, complaints and legal claims.
- Ensure our services can meet patient needs in the future.
- Prepare statistics on NHS performance.
- Review the care we provide to ensure it is of the highest standard.
The following will be with your consent:
- To help in health research and development.
- To help teach healthcare professionals.
How do we keep your records confidential?
Everyone working within the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.
You may be receiving care from other people as well as the NHS (e.g. Social Services). We may need to share some information about you with them so we can all work together for your benefit. We will only ever pass information about you to them if they have a genuine need for it.
We will not disclose your information to a third party without your permission unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as when the health and safety of others is at risk or if the law requires us to pass on information.
Anyone who receives information from us has a legal duty to keep it confidential.
Who might we share your personal information with?
We may share information with the following main partner organisations:
- NHS Trusts.
- General Practitioners (GPs).
- Ambulance Services.
We may also share your information, subject to strict agreement about how it will be used, with:
- Social Services.
- Education Services.
- Local Authorities.
- Voluntary Sector Providers.
- Private Sector Providers.
Disclosure of information
You have the right to restrict disclosure of your personal information. This must be noted explicitly within your health record in order that all health professionals treating you are aware of your decision. By choosing this option, it may make the provision of care or treatment you receive more difficult or unavailable and we will fully inform you of this. However, it is ultimately your decision to agree to disclose your information or not. You can also change your mind at any time about a disclosure decision.
How can you access your records?
The Data Protection Act 1998 allows you find out what information is held about you.
Your request must be made in writing to the Data Controller. For information from the hospital or GP you should write to them.
There may be a charge to have a printed copy of the information held about you.
The PCT is 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 etc) so that your identity can be verified and your records located.
Copying Letters to Patients
Patients now have a right to a copy of any letter written about them from one healthcare professional to another. If you would like to receive a copy of your letter, inform the health professional treating you during your appointment.
Data Controller
The Data Controller, responsible for keeping your information confidential is based at:
Trafford Primary Care Trust
Oakland House
Talbot Road
Old Trafford
M16 0PQ
Tel: 0161 873 9500
Notification
The Data Protection Act 1998 requires organisations to lodge a notification with the Information Commissioner to describe the purposes for which they process personal information. This information is publicly available at the Information Commissioner's Office at:
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545745
Fax: 01625 524510
Visit the Information Commissioner's website.
If you require any further information please contact Trafford PCT's Information Governance Manager on 0161 873 9500.