In order to provide the right level of care, we are required to hold personal information about you on our computer systems and in paper records to help us to look after your health needs, and your doctor is responsible for their accuracy and safe-keeping. Please help to keep your record up to date by informing us of any changes to your circumstances.

Confidentiality and Personal Information

Doctors and staff in the practice have access to your medical records to enable them to do their jobs. From time to time information may be shared with others involved in your care if it is necessary. Anyone with access to your record is properly trained in confidentiality issues and is governed by both legal and contractual duty to keep your details private.

All information about you is held securely and appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent accidental loss.

In some circumstances we may be required by law to release your details to statutory or other official bodies, for example if a court order is presented, or in the case of public health issues. In other circumstance you may be required to give written consent before information is released – such as for medical reports for insurance, solicitors etc.

To ensure your privacy, we will not disclose information over the telephone or fax unless we are sure that we are talking to you. Information will not be disclosed to family, friends or spouses unless we have prior written consent, and we do not, leave messages with others.

You have a right to see your records if you wish. Please see the 'Online Access Request' for more information. 

Confidentiality is of the utmost importance to us.  Please be assured that any information shared with any member of our team will remain confidential unless you give us permission to share it.

All our staff receive regular confidentiality training.  You can find a copy of our practice confidentiality policy in the 'Policies' section within the 'Further Information' section of the website.

It's important that you inform us of any changes to your personal details so that we can contact you if required.  You can let us know of any changes by submitting the online form below or by calling reception.

Increasingly, patient medical data is shared e.g. between GP surgeries and District Nursing, in order to give clinicians access to the most up to date information when attending patients.

The systems we operate require that any sharing of medical information is consented to by patients beforehand. Patients must consent to sharing of the data held by a health provider out to other health providers and must also consent to which of the other providers can access their data.

e.g. it may be necessary to share data held in GP practices with district nurses but the local podiatry department would not need to see it to undertake their work. In this case, patients would allow the surgery to share their data, they would allow the district nurses to access it but they would not allow access by the podiatry department. In this way access to patient data is under patients' control and can be shared on a 'need to know' basis.

Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments.  The NHS is committed to:

• keeping patient information safe and
• always being clear about how it is used

How your data is used

Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnoses is collected about you whenever you use health and care services.  It is also used to help us and other organisations for research and planning such as research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of doctors and nurses in your local hospital.  It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations.

Wherever possible, we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.

You have a choice

You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used.

If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or via telephone.  You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

Will opting-out affect your care and treatment?

No - choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment.  You will still be invited for screening services, such a screenings for bowel cancer however your data will not be used for research and planning purposes.

How do I opt out?

To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/manage-your-choice/

There is a Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). It is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines that 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 you 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.

Patients can now access their health record and view it using their NHS App. 

When you view your GP health record online you should be able to see any information that was added recently. 

View your GP health record - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

If you need to see older information in your record you need to request this directly from your GP surgery. 

If you wish to access your historic medical record information please complete the below application form and bring it into surgery with the relevant supporting documents. If you are unable to print the below form please ask our reception team to print one for you.

Application Form - Online Access to Medical Records.pdf

As a parent, family member or carer, you may be able to manage services for another person.  

For more Information on how becomming a proxy is arranged and the requirements needed please follow this link. 

Using linked profiles to access services for someone else - NHS App help and support - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

If you wish to be considered for proxy access please download our Online Access form below, complete Section 3 and bring it into surgery with the relevant supporting documents. If you are unable to print the below form please ask our reception team to print one for you.

Application Form - Online Access to Medical Records.pdf