We take looking after your medical records seriously, from data about your appointments to information related to a sensitive diagnosis. The practice complies with the Data Protection Act 2018 and is GDPR compliant. Our staff are fully trained to understand their legal and professional duty of confidence to you and your information is held securely. We will only share relevant information with other health professionals whose job is to provide your care when they prove both their identity and role. If we share your full record we will ask your permission first, other than in exceptional circumstances where there is grave risk to life, or where the law requires it.
You can find out more about the information we hold on you and your choices about how you share it by reading the A3 poster on display in our reception, or by visiting:
All members of the primary health care team (from reception to doctors) in the course of their duties will have access to your medical records. They all adhere to the highest standards of maintaining confidentiality.
All phone calls are recorded but are only accessible by the staff on the call or senior staff. They will only be accessed for training and development or managing complaints. All calls recordings will be deleted after 36 months. As our reception area is a little public, if you wish to discuss something of a confidential nature please mention it to one of the receptionists who will make arrangements for you to have the necessary privacy.
Under 16s:
The duty of confidentiality owed to a person under 16 is as great as the duty owed to any other person. Young people aged under 16 years can choose to see health professionals, without informing their parents or carers. If a GP considers that the young person is competent to make decisions about their health, then the GP can give advice, prescribe and treat the young person without seeking further consent.
However, in terms of good practice, health professionals will encourage young people to discuss issues with a parent or carer. As with older people, sometimes the law requires us to report information to appropriate authorities in order to protect young people or members of the public.
Useful Websites:
• Confidentiality NHS Code of Practice