The practice has a policy for consent to the treatment of children under the age of 16 that conforms to the current Children’s Act.

Information sharing and data protection

The practice complies with the Data Protection and Access to Medical Records legislation. Patients have a right of access to their medical records. If you wish to see your records you must submit a written request to us, and a fee may be payable. Identifiable information about you will be shared in the following circumstances:-

• To provide further medical treatment for you, e.g. from District nurse and Hospital services.
• To help you get other services, e.g. from Social Work Department. This requires your consent.
• When we have a duty to others, e.g. Child Protection cases.

Anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government to plan services. If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.

The NHS can share information to plan and improve services for all patients. Information such as your postcode and NHS number, but not your name, will be used to link records in a secure system, so your identity is protected. Information which does not reveal your identity can then be used by others, such as researchers and those planning health services, to make sure we provide the best care possible for everyone.

We will only use the minimum amount if information we need to help us improve patient care and the services we provide.

We have developed a thorough process that must be followed before any information can be shared.

We will make sure that the way we use information is in line with the law, national guidance and best practice. Reports that we publish will never identify a particular person.

If you do not want information that identifies you to be shared outside your GP practice, ask your practice to make a note of this in your medical record. This will prevent your confidential information being used other than where necessary by law, (for example, if there is a public health emergency).

If you are happy for your information to be shared you do not need to do anything.

If you have concerns or are not happy for your information to be shared, speak to the practice.

For more information, including a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), please visit the NHS Care Data Website.