The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:
- To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses and hospital services.
- To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your consent.
- When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care.
If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.
Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.
Freedom of Information
Information about the General Practitioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the practice manager.
Summary Care Record
The Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR) is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.
Why do I need a Summary Care Record?
Storing information in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.
This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe for you.
Who can see it?
Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record.
How do I know if I have one?
Over half of the population of England now have a Summary Care Record. You can find out whether Summary Care Records have come to your area by asking your GP
Do I have to have one?
No, it is not compulsory. If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery. Click here for the the Opt Out Form.
More Information
For further information visit the NHS Care records website.
GDPR
Patient Information – under the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) from 25 May 2018 there is a new law that determines how your personal data is kept safe and processed and the legal rights you have in relation to your own data.
What do we mean by ‘accessing health records’?
This means that you can see and/or have copies of your health records. these records could be those at the hospital or those held by your GP, dentist, pharmacist or optician. They also include records written by health visitors, district nurse and other community staff as well as the ambulance service. Records include xrays, scan, reports etc.
Why would I want to access my health records?
You may want to know what’s been written in your health records for many reasons. You may be thinking of making a complaint about your healthcare. You do not need to tell anyone the reasons why you want access to your health records
Will I have to pay any charges?
No under the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) there is now no fee providing there is not an unreasonable number of requests received in a short period of time.
Are there any date or time restrictions on health records that I can access?
No. You can request access to any health records that you know exists
How long should it take for my request to be processed?
You should be able to view and/or have copies of your health records within 28 days of your request being made and any necessary fee being paid.
What if I am requesting access to health records of somebody who has died?
Your rights are different. As duty of confidentiality survives a patient’s death then you have to have good reasons for wanting access. This may be because you are:
- the patient’s personal representative
- an executor of their will
- a person granted letters of administration by the probate registry or
- a person with a claim arising out of the patient’s death
- you can only access health records that were made from 1 November 1991. Similar charges apply as above. You can ask for somebody to be present, to provide any necessary explanations of what is written in the health records
Can my request be refused?
Yes. Where the record holder feels that it would cause serious harm to the physical or mental health of you or anyone else then you may be refused access. If you are refused access for this reason then you have the right to be advised about this refusal.