Confidentiality
Confidentiality is central to the trust between patients and doctors. Doctors have a legal duty to maintain this confidentiality. But there are occasions when others outside the doctor-patient relationship may be given information about patients. Information will be shared within the Practice Team to facilitate patient care, e.g. the receptionist will need to know if patients require a stretcher or oxygen when booking ambulances.
Anyone who receives information from us has the same legal duty of confidentiality as we do. When a patient is referred to other health professionals for patient care, relevant information, e.g. date of birth, medication, medical condition, will be relayed to those who are to be involved, and to their support staff. On occasion it may be relevant to share information with outside agencies, e.g. Social Services or Housing. If you do not wish information to be shared in these ways please indicate. We must observe your wishes, except where it would put others at risk of serious harm.
As doctors we are required to participate in clinical audit, i.e. review how well we are managing our patients’ conditions. Information that identifies individual patients is normally shared only within the Practice Team but on occasion a representative of the Primary Care Trust, or similar, may be assisting the Practice in the audit and become aware of individual patient information. You have the right to object to such disclosure. If you object please make your wishes known. They must be respected.
Where audit is carried out by another organisation all patient information will be anonymised wherever this is possible. The main reasons for these audits are to verify payments to GPs for patient care, for research and for Public Health and Health Services provision planning. The main exceptions to anonymised data are the legal requirements to notify deaths and certain infectious diseases, the National Cancer Registry and where a judge or presiding officer in a law court orders disclosure.
In exceptional circumstances patient information may be disclosed because it is in the Public Interest. This can occur even without consent. In the unlikely event that such a situation arises we shall make every possible effort to inform and seek consent first.
Your Consent to Passing on Information About You
Some people who would like to have access to information about you may be given it only if you consent. These include solicitors pursuing a claim, insurance companies to whom you have applied for life insurance or holiday cancellation insurance (for example) and employers. We will not disclose information to these and similar people without your express consent. If you do not object then we are required to make full disclosure of all relevant information. In these circumstances you have the right to see what information is being given, either before it is sent (if this is what you choose) or within six months after.
Your Medical Record
Your medical record includes details of your consultations, illnesses, tests, prescriptions and other treatments. It helps us provide you with the best possible health care. The information is stored on paper and electronically on computer files. Where relevant it may be transmitted electronically over the NHS net.
Your Right to See Your Record
You can apply to see your medical record. We have an obligation, by law, to allow you access to your written or computerised record. We are allowed to charge a fee to cover our administration and photocopying costs. All such requests must be made in writing and must be met within 21 days. We have a duty to you to keep your medical records accurate and up-to-date. If however you are aware of any errors of fact that have appeared in your record please ask us to amend or correct your record. The leaflet, “Access to Health Records” gives more detailed information. Please ask if you would like a copy.