Your rights
To
have your information kept safe
Whether you are a regular user of the Health Service or you hardly ever
go to the doctor, you have the right to have your health records kept confidential
and only made available to those who are directly involved in your care.
Doctors, nurses, administrative and other staff who work for the NHS in
Wirral
all have to abide by a series of strict confidentiality agreements. Some
of these are part of the law, such as the Data Protection Act 1998. Others
are more specific to the NHS, such as the local 'Code of Conduct on Confidentiality'.
You can see the actual Code of Conduct to which Wirral NHS staffs have to
adhere by clicking
here.
Further to that, the Electronic Health Record brings its own protection
of the information that the NHS holds about you. The EHR computer system
itself employs stringent limitations on access to records, as well as 128-bit
SSL security protecting the screens themselves. This is the same kind of
encryption that the big commercial banks use for their on-line services.
To choose whether or not to be part of the EHR
As a member of the public you have the right to 'opt out' of the EHR. If
you did opt out, your records wouldn't be included in the new computer system.
The NHS organisations in Wirral hope that the benefits you can read about
on this web site will convince you of the importance of your records being
included. However, if you are still unsure you should phone the Wirral Patient
Advisory and Liaison Service (PALS) on their free phone no. 0800 085 1547.
The EHR project does not affect your statutory right to see information
about you held on your medical record. If you want to know more about seeing
that information, please contact the Patient Advisory Liaison Service on
0800 085 1547.
