Patient confidentiality

Confidentiality and Computers

All our staff respect and observe the strictest rules of confidentiality.

A private room is available if you wish to speak to any member of staff in confidence.

All information held on our computer system is confidential and covered by the Data Protection Act.

All telephone calls to and from the surgery are recorded.

How we use Patient Information

We ask you for information about yourself so that you can receive proper care and treatment.

We keep this information, together with details of your care, because it may be needed if we see you again.

We may use some of this information for other reasons: for example, to help us protect the health of the public generally and to see that the NHS runs efficiently, plans for the future, trains its staff, pays its bills and can account for its actions.  Information may also be needed to help educate tomorrow’s clinical staff to carry out medical and other health research for the benefit of everyone.

Sometimes the law requires us to pass on information: for example, to notify a birth.

The NHS Central Register for England and Wales contains basic personal details of all patients registered with a General Practitioner.  The Register does not contain clinical information.

You have a right to access your health records.

Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential

You may be receiving care from other people as well as the NHS.  So that we can work together for your benefit, we may need to share some information about you.

We only ever use or pass on information about you if people have a genuine need for it in your and everyone’s interests.  Whenever we can, we shall remove details which identify you.  The sharing of some types of very sensitive personal information is strictly controlled by law.

Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential.

The main reasons for which your information may be needed are:

  • Giving you health care and treatment
  • Looking after the health of the general public
  • Managing and planning the NHS
  • Helping staff to review the care they provide to make sure it is of the highest standard
  • Training and educating staff (but you can choose whether or not to be involved personally)
  • Research approved by the Local Research Ethics Committee

(If anything to do with research would involve you personally, you will be contacted to see if you are willing to take part.  You will not be identified in any published results without your agreement).

If you agree, your relatives, friends and carers will be kept up to date with the progress of your treatment.

If at any time you would like to know more about how we use your information, you can speak to the person in charge of your care or to the Practice Manager.

Date published: 10th October, 2014
Date last updated: 24th August, 2023