DATA PROTECTION

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 (Amended 2002), your information remains strictly confidential and will only be released to authorised parties and other health care workers involved in your care. We are occasionally required to submit reports based on patient data, but this data will be anonymous.
Our practice Caldicott Guardian is Mrs Sandra Faulkner.

HOW WE USE YOUR RECORDS

Your records are used to guide and administer the care you receive to ensure that:
 
* Your Doctor, Nurse or other healthcare professionals involved in your care has accurate and up-to-date information to assess your health and decide the most appropriate care for you.
 
* There is a good information base for healthcare professionals to assess and help improve the type and quality of care you receive.
 
* Your concerns can be properly investigated if a complaint is raised.
 
We will ensure that appropriate information is available if you see another Doctor, or are referred to a specialist in another part of the NHS.

HOW WE KEEP YOUR RECORDS CONFIDENTIAL

Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.
 
We need to share some information about you with other healthcare professionals involved in your care so we can all work together for your benefit. We will only pass information about you on to them if:
 
* They have a genuine need for it
* We have your permission.
 
We will only disclose your information to a third party in exceptional circumstances, such as when the health and safety of others is at risk or if the law requires us to pass on the information.
 
Anyone who receives information from us has a legal duty to keep it confidential.

ACCESS TO YOUR HEALTH RECORDS

You have a right of access to the information we hold about you on our records. Your request must be made in writing to the Practice. There will be a charge to have printed copies of information we hold about you. We will respond to your request within 40 days. You will need to give your full details and signed consent so that we can verify and locate your records.
 
If you would like to receive a copy of any letter written about you from one of our healthcare professionals you will be required to inform them during your appointment.