What is GDPR?
This video explains the new data protection laws: 'Introduction to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)'
When is GDPR implemented?
Friday 25 May 2018.
Why do we collect information about you?
In the Trust we aim to provide you with the highest quality of health care. To do this we must keep records about you, your health and the care we have provided or plan to provide to you.
These records may include:
- Basic details about you, such as address, date of birth, next of kin
- Contact we have had with you such as clinical visits
- Details and records about your treatment and care
- Results of x-rays, laboratory tests etc.,
- Relevant information from people who care for you and know you well, such as health professionals and relatives
It is good practice for people in the NHS who provide care to:
- discuss and agree with you what they are going to record about you
- give you a copy of letters they are writing about you; and
- show you what they have recorded about you, if you ask.
We will only store your information in identifiable form for a long as in necessary in and in accordance with NHS England’s Rules found here.
How your records are used
The people who care for you use your records to:
- Provide a good basis for all health decisions made by you and care professionals
- Allow you to work with those providing care
- Make sure your care is safe and effective, and
- Work effectively with others providing you with care
Others may also need to use records about you to:
- check the quality of care (such as clinical audit)
- protect the health of the general public
- keep track of NHS spending
- manage the health service
- help investigate any concerns or complaints you or your family have about your health care
- teach health workers and
- help with research
Some information will be held centrally to be used for statistical purposes. In these instances, we take strict measures to ensure that individual patients cannot be identified.
We use anonymous information, wherever possible, but on occasions we may use personally confidential information for essential NHS purposes such as research and auditing. However, this information will only be used with your consent, unless the law requires us to pass on the information.
The Legal Part
You have a right to privacy under the General Data Protection Regulation 2016 (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act. The Trust needs to know your personal, sensitive and confidential data in order perform our statutory health duties, in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller, in compliance with Article 6 (e) of the GDPR. Additionally, information is used for the purposes of preventive or occupational medicine, for the assessment of the working capacity of the employee, medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems and services in compliance with Article 9, (h) of the GDPR.
- You have the right to ask for a copy of all records about you.
- Your request must be made in writing to the organisation holding your information
- We are required to respond to you within one month
- You will need to give adequate information (for example full name, address, date of birth, NHS number etc.) and produce valid ID documentation.
To Access your record contact the Access to Health Records team on 0300 303 4563 (option 3).
If you think anything is inaccurate or incorrect, please inform the Hospital as soon as possible.
The Trust Data Protection Officer (DPO) is:
Mr Saiful Choudhury
County Hall
Glenfield
Leicestershire
LE3 8RA
0116 258 6053
How we keep your records confidential
Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.
We have a duty to:
- Maintain full and accurate records of the care we provide to you
- Keep records about you confidential, secure and accurate
- Provide information in a format that is accessible to you (i.e., in large type if you are partially sighted).
We will not share information that identifies you for any reason, unless:
- you ask us to do so;
- we ask, and you give us specific permission;
- we have to do this by law;
- we have special permission for health or research purposes or
- we have special permission because the interests of the public are thought to be of greater importance than your confidentiality
Our guiding principle is that we are holding your records in STRICT CONFIDENCE.
Who are our partner organisations?
We may share information with the following main partner organisations:
- Strategic Health Authorities
- NHS Trusts / Organisation (Hospitals, CCG’s)
- Ambulance Service
We may also share your information, with your consent and subject to strict sharing protocols about how it will be used, with:
- Social Services
- Education Services
- Local Authorities
- Voluntary Sector Providers
- Private Sector
Anyone who receives information from us also has a legal duty to: KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL.
If you believe the Trust has breached any of your Data Protection Rights:
Contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
Tel: 08081 788337
pals@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
You have a right to contact the Information Commissioner.
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