Your Health Record

Confidential Records

Archwood Medical Practice has a legal duty to explain how we use any personal information we collect about you as a registered patient at the practice.

We will only share data that identifies you under the following circumstances:

  • With other health care professionals (hospital or community staff) as part of an agreed plan of treatment
  • With your explicit consent, e.g. for participation in research studies
  • In circumstances where it is in the interests of your health and you are not able to give consent, e.g. if you are unconscious
  • Where we are obliged to divulge information under the Health & Social Care Act 2012, e.g. in the case of a national emergency or pandemic
  • Where we are required to do so for health service planning purposes and you have not explicitly opted out of having your data shared (see below)
  • Please see our Privacy Notice for detailed information (Word document)

We will not discuss your medical affairs even with your close family unless you give us permission to do so. This includes details of appointments you have made. If you would like your partner, parent, son/daughter or carer to be able to speak to us on your behalf, you must tell us beforehand. Please ask our Reception Team for a consent form if you require an ongoing arrangement for sharing consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

 

Collection of GP Data for Planning and Research

The data held in your GP medical records is shared with other healthcare professionals for the purpose of your individual care. It is also shared with other organisations to support health and care planning and research. Information about your health and care helps the NHS to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. As a practice we are legally required to participate in the sharing of this data, but you can control your personal confidential information. If you do not want your personally identifiable patient data to be shared outside of your GP practice you can ‘opt-out’. This is called a Type 1 Opt-out.

1) Type 1 Opt-out

  • A Type 1 Opt Out prevents information being shared outside a GP practice for purposes other than your direct care.
  • Who do you notify of your decision to opt out?  Please print and sign an Type 1 Opt-out Form and either bring the original to the practice for processing or take a photo of it and email it to us at STOCCG.archwoodsurgery@nhs.net so that we can update your data sharing preferences.

If you have not previously opted out of data sharing, NHS Digital may already hold some of your information. If you do not want this to be shared outside of NHS Digital for purposes beyond your individual care, you will also need to complete a Type 2 Opt-out (now known as National Data Opt-out).

2) Type 2 Opt-out – now known as National Data Opt-out

Other Ways to Make a Choice

If you don’t want to or can’t opt-out online you can also make or change a choice by phone, email or post.

Phone: NHS Digital Contact Centre phone number: 0300 303 5678 – Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).

Email or letter:  Email your opt-out form to enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk  or send by post to: National Data Opt Out Contact Centre, NHS Digital, HM Government, 7 and 8 Wellington Place, Leeds LS1 4AP  Please note, if you’re a parent or legal guardian and you want to opt your children out, you must complete the opt-out form.

What is Archwood Medical Practice doing to inform patients of this change?

To make sure that as many patients as possible know about the scheme and have the opportunity to make a choice, Archwood Medical Practice are taking the following steps:

  • All staff fully aware to support you with any queries you may have
  • Information available in the practice
  • Information on social media
  • Information on website and links above to NHS websites for further information

 

Summary Care Record (SCR)

Your Summary Care Record is different to the above sharing for secondary uses. Your SCR is used to assist in provision of care for you. Access to SCR information means that care in other settings is safer, reducing the risk of prescribing errors. It also helps avoid delays to urgent care.

At a minimum, the SCR holds important information about;

  • current medication
  • allergies and details of any previous bad reactions to medicines
  • the name, address, date of birth and NHS number of the patient

Additional Information in the SCR, such as details of long-term conditions, significant medical history, or specific communications needs, is now included by default for patients with an SCR, unless they have previously told the NHS that they did not want this information to be shared. There will also be a temporary change to include COVID-19 specific codes in relation to suspected, confirmed, Shielded Patient List and other COVID-19 related information within the Additional Information.

All of our patients who have not chosen to opt out have a Summary Care Record that can be accessed, with the patient’s consent, by hospital and out of hours staff.

You may choose to opt out of having a Summary Care Record. See this website page to help you to decide on the risks and benefits.

If you would like to opt out, please print off and complete the following consent form and return it to the surgery.