Your Data

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Your Health and Care Records

What is patient information?

When you visit an NHS or social care service, information about you and the care you receive is recorded and stored in a health and care record. This is so that people caring for you can make the best decisions about your care. 

Find out about the types of records and how to access them.

The information in your records can include your:

• Name, age and address
• Health conditions
• Treatments and medicines
• Allergies and past reactions to medications
• Tests, scans and x-ray results
• Lifestyle information, such as whether you smoke or drink
• Hospital admission and discharge information

Your Confidential Records

We will only share data that identifies you under the following circumstances:

• With other health care professionals (hospital or community staff) as part of an agreed plan of treatment
• With your explicit consent, e.g. for participation in research studies, insurers, solicitors or other thid party organisations
• In circumstances where it is in the interests of your health and you are not able to give consent, e.g. if you are unconscious
• Where we are obliged to divulge information under the Health & Social Care Act 2012, e.g. in the case of a national emergency or pandemic
• Where we are required to do so for health service planning purposes and you have not explicitly opted out of having your data shared (see below)

Our strict rules about confidentiality mean that we will not discuss your medical affairs even with your close family unless you give us permission to do so. This includes details of appointments you have made. If you would like your partner, parent, son/daughter or carer to be able to speak to us on your behalf, you must tell us beforehand. Please speak with our reception team to have this added to your record. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

You have the right to control how medical information about you is shared, disseminated or sold, for purposes other than your direct medical care – so called secondary uses (or purposes).

Secondary uses include projects involved in risk stratification, population health management, national clinical audits, research, healthcare planning, commissioning of healthcare services by CCGs, commercial and even political uses. You can control your personal confidential information by opting out of data sharing.

Please read this page from NHS digital regarding common misconceptions with data sharing - Mythbusting social media posts about the national data opt-out

 

There are 2 types of data sharing:

Type 1 Opt Out

What is it?

A Type 1 Opt-out prevents information being shared outside a GP practice for purposes other than direct care.

The data held in your GP medical records is shared with other healthcare professionals for the purposes of your individual care. It is also shared with other organisations to support health and care planning and research.

If you do not want your personally identifiable patient data to be shared outside of your GP practice for purposes except your own care, you can register an opt-out with your GP practice.

Who do you notify of your decision to opt out?

For patients wishing to opt out, you will need to complete the below form: 

TYPE 1 OPT-OUT PREFERENCES FORM

Type 2 Opt Out – now known as National Data Opt-out

What is it?

A Type 2 Opt-out/National Data Opt-out prevents information being shared outside NHS Digital for purposes beyond the individual’s direct care. The NHS Digital website has the full current information regarding these opt-outs.

Who do you notify of your decision to opt out

Type 2 Opt outs are arranged by NHS Digital. If you are aged 13 or older you can go to Make your choice and sharing data from your health record webpage and opt out online.

You can also make or change a choice for:

• yourself by phone, email or post
• someone else by email or post

NHS Digital Contact Centre phone number: 0300 303 5678 – Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).

If you’re a parent or legal guardian and you want to opt your children out, you must complete the opt-out form.

Once you’ve completed the form, you can email it to the Contact Centre –enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk

Alternatively, you can post the form to:

National Data Opt Out

Contact Centre

NHS Digital

HM Government

7 and 8 Wellington Place

Leeds

LS1 4AP

 

 

 

Summary Care Record (SCR)

Your Summary Care Record is different to the above sharing for secondary uses. Your SCR is used to assist in provision of care for you. Access to SCR information means that care in other settings is safer, reducing the risk of prescribing errors. It also helps avoid delays to urgent care.

At a minimum, the SCR holds important information about;

• current medication
• allergies and details of any previous bad reactions to medicines
• the name, address, date of birth and NHS number of the patient

Additional Information in the SCR, such as details of long-term conditions, significant medical history, or specific communications needs, is now included by default for patients with an SCR, unless they have previously told the NHS that they did not want this information to be shared. There will also be a temporary change to include COVID-19 specific codes in relation to suspected, confirmed, Shielded Patient List and other COVID-19 related information within the Additional Information.

All of our patients who have not chosen to opt out have a Summary Care Record that can be accessed, with the patient’s consent, by hospital and out of hours staff.

You may choose to opt out of having a Summary Care Record. The websites below will help you to decide on the risks and benefits.

https://digital.nhs.uk/services/summary-care-records-scr

If you would like to opt out, please print off and complete the following consent form and return it to the surgery. 

https://digital.nhs.uk/services/summary-care-records-scr/scr-patient-consent-preference-form

 

Connecting Care

Connecting Care is a digital care record system for sharing information in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. It allows instant, secure access to your health and Social care records for the professionals involved in your care.

Relevant information from your digital records is shared with people who look after you. This gives them up-to-date information, making your care safer and more efficient.

For more detailed information, click on the links below:

What is Connecting Care?

Connecting Care Opt-Out