Patient Information
What Happens to information held about you?
This page explains how Gold Street Surgery uses and safeguards your personal information.
Gold Street Surgery keeps information about you and your care in various formats including both paper and computerised records. This includes your:
- Name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Contact details
- Next of kin
Your records are also identified by an NHS number, which can be used across the NHS.
Sharing your information with those looking after you, both inside and outside the Practice is a vital part of safe and effective care, but we also place the highest importance on maintaining its confidentiality.
How your information is stored and who has access to it is strictly regulated by the Data Protection Act 1998, NHS protocols and a code of confidentiality that is binding on all NHS staff. This includes procedures on storing your information securely, how long we keep it and when it is destroyed. Information about your care is also used to support local and national clinical audits, service improvements, education, contracting and research. However, the following conditions and exceptions may apply:
- For clinical audit, medical notes and computer files may be seen by members of the audit/clinical team when the information is first collected. It is then analysed for presentation to clinicians, who use it to improve patient care. Audit staff, like all others with access to your information, are legally bound to ensure confidentiality.
- If your personal information is to be used in research you will be asked for your consent. However, a specially appointed national body, the National Information Governance Board (NIGB), may allow personal details to be used without consent in specific circumstances when the research is seen to be in the public interest.
- Some details must be provided in relation to police investigations into a specific incident or crime, or in accordance with legal requirements.
In all these instances there are strict rules to ensure that the minimum information is used by as few individuals as possible. In emergency situations, or where consent is not possible, permission is only given after careful review by a senior staff member, known as the Caldicott Guardian, and his/her advisors ensure that any information is carefully considered, clearly justified and safely carried out.
If you supply us with a landline or mobile telephone number, we will, unless you advise us not to, use it to contact you. This could also include via a text message or voice message to you reminding you about appointments.
You may register an objection to uses of your information, and the Practice will use all practical measures to follow your wishes.
You also have the right to see your health records (a fee is chargeable), and to make corrections if necessary.
Please contact the Practice Manager on 01799 582620.
If you suffer harm through misuse of your information you may seek compensation.
Safeguarding Policy
The Gold Street Surgery is committed to protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults and we make their welfare our highest priority. Where additional support is necessary this will include working with other agencies. If you have any concerns about a child or vulnerable adult please speak to your GP or Practice Nurse.