All the members of the practice staff are bound to maintain patient confidentiality. We will investigate any breech of confidentiality and take appropriate action in such cases.
Confidentiality also extends to patients family members, therefore medical information relating to you, will not be divulged without your consent.
The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:
- To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses and hospital services.
- To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your consent.
- When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care.
If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.
Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.
Freedom of Information
We are dealing with public funds, our procedures, policies along with income and prescribing expenditure is available for inspection at the practice. You may make written request for inspection.
Access to Records
The Data Protection 1998 and Access to Health Records Act 1990, allows you to find out what information is held about you on computer and written records made after November 1991.
If you want to see your records you should make a written request. You are entitled to receive a copy, but a charge for administration is usually made.
In certain circumstances access to your records may be limited, for example, if it is felt to be in your best interest, or for the protection of others.
No information will be released without your consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.
For further information you may contact Data Protection Officer of Middlesbrough or further guidance can be obtained from https://ico.org.uk