Public Information Booklet

Creating a safe environment for your personal medical information

What else happens to the information?
Some of this information may also be shared for purposes other than your own health care. This leaflet has been prepared to help explain who we may share the information with, and under what circumstances. The information is anonymous wherever possible and is always under strict control. If you have any concerns regarding the sharing of this information you have the right to refuse to allow some or all of your information being used.

Teaching and training of healthcare professionals
Training is very important to ensure that healthcare professionals have the skills and knowledge to provide the healthcare services of the future. Wherever possible data will be anonymised, (no personal information will be included) but this is not possible for training carried out as part of clinic activities. You have the right to refuse to allow identifiable information to be used for teaching and training purposes and this will not affect your immediate care in any way. However, this may limit the development of future staff whose services you may require.

To help plan future social care
In order to offer a complete care package your information may sometimes be shared with Social Services or other non-NHS agencies. This will only be with your consent and you have the right to refuse, but such refusal will limit the ability to arrange any ongoing care you may need, once your NHS care is completed. These other organisations will have their own Data Protection procedures and will be bound by a confidentiality agreement. They will also have their own policies in place to ensure confidentiality.

Funding local health services
Limited information must be transferred to obtain payment for your health services from the appropriate funding body (e.g. NHS, private insurance). This information will be restricted to the minimum necessary to secure those payments.