Sharing Your Medical Information

Data Sharing and Primary Care Networks

Learn more about how we share your information with our Primary Care Network

Your electronic health record

As a practice, we aim to provide you with the best quality care that is safe and effective. To facilitate that we now work with a wider team to provide a comprehensive range of health related services to you and your family. The practice uses the clinical computer system called SystmOne, which enables your full electronic record to be shared to anyone involved in providing direct care to you, across different healthcare services.

Why is sharing my health information important?

Your electronic health record contains lots of information about you, including your medical history, the types of medication you take, any allergies you have and demographic information like your home address, and your next of kin.

In many cases, particularly for patients with complex conditions, the shared record plays a vital role in delivering the best care. Health and social care professionals can ensure coordinated response, taking into account all aspects of a person’s physical and mental health. Whilst some patients have extensive knowledge of their conditions and care requirements, this is not true for everyone. Many patients are understandably not able to provide a full account of their care. The shared record means patients do not have to repeat their medical histories at every care setting, or make guesses about their previous care.

A shared record ensures health or social care professionals always have the most accurate, up to date information. They can rely on their colleagues, sharing accurate and relevant data in a timely way, to provide you with safe and efficient care.

Which services could I go to that could access my medical record with your consent:

• GP practices
• Community services such as district nurses, therapists and diabetes services
• Child health services that undertake scheduling of treatments such as vaccinations
• Urgent care organisations such as Minor Injury Units and Out of Hours services
• Community hospitals
• Palliative care hospices and community services
• NHS Hospitals (including A/E Departments) and Mental Health Trusts
• Care homes
• Social care - registered and regulated professionals within social care organisations coordinating care (not social care providers 

Can I choose what is made available?

To give you the most personalised care, it is recommended that you share your whole health record with every service that cares for you. However, you have control over your record and have the choice to specify specific elements of the record you don’t want to be shared. For example, if you have had a consultation about a particularly sensitive matter, you can ask for this section of the record to be marked as private. That way, even if you consent for another service to see your record, that consultation will not be shown. If a consent override is used, then consultations marked as private will be accessible.  

As a practice we would strongly advise patients to register for online services with your mobile number and email address. This will allow you to order prescriptions and book appointments over the web as well as being kept up to date with all practice information. By registering online you can also request access to view your medical record.

If you would like more information on how your data is shared please talk to us.

Sharing Your Medical Information Policy

Introduction

This leaflet explains why we collect information about you, the ways in which this information may be used and who we may share this information with to help care for you.

Why we collect information about you and what records do we keep

To provide you with the best quality care possible, we must keep health records about you. These contain information about the treatment and support you receive which is recorded by the professionals who have 
been involved in your care. This may include:

• Basic details about you such as address, date of birth, next of kin;
• Any contact we have had with you such as clinical visits;
• Notes and reports about your health;
• Details and records about your treatment and care;
• Hospital letters;
• Results of x-rays, laboratory tests etc.;
• Any other relevant information from people who care for you and know you well such as health professionals and relatives.

How we keep your records confidential

Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential and secure. To help us protect your confidentiality, it is important to inform us about any relevant changes that we should know about, such as change of address, telephone, change of personal circumstance.

All staff working at the Practice sign a Confidentiality Agreement that explicitly makes clear their duties in relation to personal health information and the consequences of breaching that duty.

Access to patient records by staff other than clinical staff is regulated to ensure they are only accessed when there is a genuine need to do so, such as when identifying and printing repeat prescriptions for patients, or when typing referral letters to hospital consultants.

How your information may be used

We will share information in your health record to allow health professionals to work together more effectively to ensure you receive the best quality care.

Summary Care Record

One of the ways of sharing your health information for your care is through the Summary Care Record (SCR). The SCR is available nationally to health professionals who may care for you. It contains important information about any medicines you are taking, any allergies you suffer from, and any bad reactions to medicines that you have had. Access to this information can prevent mistakes from being made when caring for you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.

You can also ask for your SCR to include additional information about you, such as your current health conditions. This is known as an Enriched SCR.

Further information on the SCR can be viewed on the NHS Digital website

SystmOne - GP Clinical System

Another way of sharing your information for your care is through the confidential electronic record system that we use in our practice, called SystmOne. This is used widely across the NHS and care organisations to keep accurate medical records about you. These records store important information about your illnesses and the care you have received in the past. Your record may contain information from different health and social care organisations such as a hospital, a minor injuries unit, or from a community care service such as district nursing.

Organisations can only access your medical record if you give them permission. For example, you may be working or on holiday in another part of the country and need care from a hospital or a clinic. Having access to your whole medical record will improve the care they can provide you.

How does this work?

Local trusted organisations, including your local Primary Care Network, that we work with on a regular basis will be able to access your record immediately once they have asked for your permission.

For organisations that are further afield and that we do not work with on a regular basis, you will need to give us your preferred mobile phone number or email address, which we will record on your medical record. This means that when another organisation asks to access your record, we can send you a verification (security code) which allows you to choose whether to let that organisation view your medical record or not.

If you already use the SystmOnline patient portal, then you can select organisations to allow or prevent them from accessing your records. If you do not have a phone or email address and don’t use SystmOnline, then we will be happy to record your choices about which organisations you are happy to share your whole record with. When you receive care from organisations close to your home (Dorset), you will not usually need to give a verification (security) code because we work regularly with these organisations. However, you should still be asked for your consent to share.

Find further information about SystmOnline and these sharing controls

Can I ask for my information not to be shared?

Organisations using SystmOne should only access your record when they are involved in giving you care. Whenever a professional from another organisation wishes to view your record, they will always ask for your consent. If you choose not to allow them to access your record, they will not be able to see any information. However, you should be aware that this could disrupt your care.

If you are a carer and have a Lasting Power of Attorney for health and welfare then you can decline on behalf of the patient who lacks capacity. If you do not hold a Lasting Power of Attorney then you can raise your specific concerns with the patient’s doctor.

If you have parental responsibility and your child is not able to make an informed decision for themselves, then you can make a decision about information sharing on behalf of your child. If your child is competent then this must be their decision.

Can I change my mind?

You may change your mind about sharing at any time. We aim to ensure that your choices about how your information is shared are respected.

Can I access my records?

The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation gives every living person, or authorised representative, the right to apply for access to their health records. You have a right to ask for a copy of all records held about you.

An audit log is maintained showing who has accessed your record, and when. You are also entitled to request a copy of this log.

You can view your own health record, change how your record is accessed, and view an audit trail of who has accessed your record by using the SystmOnline patient portal. Ask your practice for details on how to set up an online account. Alternatively, you can make a request in writing and we will respond within a month. You will be required to provide ID before any information is released to you. 

If you think that anything in your record is factually inaccurate or incorrect or would like any further detail about your information rights under the General Data Protection Regulation, please inform us.

Can anyone else see my medical records?

We will not share your medical records without your consent, unless we are required to share them for legal reasons. For example, occasionally we may receive requests from insurance companies to have copies of your medical records. We will ask for your signed consent before releasing these, unless we have received a court order requesting this information.

However, we may also need to provide limited information to local authorities about some infectious diseases or if you have had food poisoning. We would not require your consent to do this. Very rarely, doctors may be required to disclose information in order to detect a serious crime. Likewise, a court order can require doctors to disclose certain information during a court case.

What do I need to do now?

After reading this information, note your decisions on the enclosed form and return to Reception. You can change your mind at any time, just complete another form.

Useful Info

• Privacy Notice
• Easy Read Version

If you have any further questions, please speak to a member of the Reception Team or our Practice Manager, Katie Pearce.