Confidentiality
In all matters concerning our patients, our staff are instructed in the need for complete confidentiality. Any contact with the doctors, nurses or staff will be treated in complete confidence.
All patient information held by the practice will only be sent to other clinicians, ie hospital consultants, private referrals, departments within secondary care, departments within community health services, following discussion with the patient. Any information to be forwarded to non-medical personnel, ie solicitors, social services, will only be sent once a signed confirmation of permission form has been received.
ACCESS TO HEALTH RECORDS BY PATIENTS
The implementation of data protection legislation in early 2000 changed patients' statutory rights of access to their health records. All manual and computerized health records about living people are accessible under the Data Protection Act 1998. Competent patients may apply for access to their own records, or may authorize a third party, such as a lawyer, to do so on their behalf. Parents may have access to their child's records if this is in the child's best interests and not contrary to a competent child's wishes.
People appointed by a court to manage the affairs of mentally incapacitated adults may have access to information necessary to fulfil their function. If you would like to see your medical records or obtain a copy of them please write to the business manager who will arrange an appointment for you to see your records with a doctor present. (The presence of a doctor is necessary so that any medical information can be explained to you.)
G.D.P.R - General Data Protection Regulations
Park House Medical Centre has a legal duty to explain how we use any personal information we collect about you, as a registered patient, at the practice. Staff at this practice maintain records about your health and the treatment you receive in electronic and paper format.
What information do we collect about you?
We will collect information such as personal details, including name, address, next of kin, records of appointments, visits, telephone calls, your health records, treatment and medications, test results, X-rays, etc. and any other relevant information to enable us to deliver effective medical care.
How we will use your information
Your data is collected for the purpose of providing direct patient care; however, we can disclose this information if it is required by law, if you give consent or if it is justified in the public interest. The practice may be requested to support research; however, we will always gain your consent before sharing your information with medical research databases such as the Clinical Practice Research Datalink and QResearch or others when the law allows.
In order to comply with its legal obligations, this practice may send data to NHS Digital when directed by the Secretary of State for Health under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Additionally, this practice contributes to national clinical audits and will send the data that is required by NHS Digital when the law allows. This may include demographic data, such as date of birth, and information about your health which is recorded in coded form; for example, the clinical code for diabetes or high blood pressure but your personal details (name, address) are NOT included.
Processing your information in this way and obtaining your consent ensures that we comply with Articles 6(1)(c), 6(1)(e) and 9(2)(h) of the GDPR.
Maintaining confidentiality and accessing your records
We are committed to maintaining confidentiality and protecting the information we hold about you. We adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the NHS Codes of Confidentiality and Security, as well as guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). You have a right to access the information we hold about you, and if you would like to access this information, you will need to complete a Subject Access Request (SAR). Please ask at reception for a SAR form and you will be given further information. Furthermore, should you identify any inaccuracies, you have a right to have the inaccurate data corrected.
Risk stratification
Risk stratification is a mechanism used to identify and subsequently manage those patients deemed as being at high risk of requiring urgent or emergency care. Usually this includes patients with long-term conditions, e.g. cancer. Your information is collected by a number of sources, including Park House Medical Centre this information is processed electronically and given a risk score which is relayed to your GP who can then decide on any necessary actions to ensure that you receive the most appropriate care.
Invoice validation
Your information may be shared if you have received treatment to determine which Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is responsible for paying for your treatment. This information may include your name, address and treatment date. All of this information is held securely and confidentially; it will not be used for any other purpose or shared with any third parties.
Opt-outs
You have a right to object to your information being shared. Should you wish to opt out of data collection, please contact a member of staff who will be able to explain how you can opt out and prevent the sharing of your information; this is done by registering to opt out online (national data opt-out programme) or if you are unable to do so or do not wish to do so online, by speaking to a member of staff.
Retention periods
In accordance with the NHS Codes of Practice for Records Management, your healthcare records will be retained for 10 years after death, or if a patient emigrates, for 10 years after the date of emigration.
What to do if you have any questions
Should you have any questions about our privacy policy or the information we hold about you, you can:
Contact the practice’s data controller via email at Nicola.raby@nhs.net. GP practices are data controllers for the data they hold about their patients
Write to the data controller at Park House Medical Centre, Sewell Street, Prescot, L34 1ND
Ask to speak to the practice manager Nicola Raby or their deputy Christina Walters at the Practice or ask for one of the handy information leaflets at Reception
The Data Protection Officer (DPO) for Park House Medical Centre is Malcolm Gandy and he/she is based at St Helens & Knowsley CCG.
Complaints
In the unlikely event that you are unhappy with any element of our data-processing methods, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the ICO. For further details, visit ico.org.uk and select ‘Raising a concern’.