Confidentiality and Medical Records

 

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Doctors and staff in the practice have access to your medical records to enable them to do their jobs. Your doctor is responsible for their accuracy and safe-keeping.

From time to time, it may be necessary to share information with others involved in your care. Anyone with access to your record is properly trained in confidentiality issues and is governed by both a legal and contractual duty to keep your details private.

All practice staff are under a legal duty to keep personal information about you confidential. Under certain limited circumstances, we do share your personal information with other health organisations.

For example, if your GP refers you to a specialist, we will send relevant information about you to the specialist.

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 circumstances, 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, fax or email 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. Under General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), patients are entitled to apply for access to their records.

Please complete a Subject Access Request form if you would like access to your records. This access can be online via the NHS App or our online services.