The Practice complies with the Data Protection and Access to Medical Records legislation.
Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:
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.
Patient data is held in medical records, in paper form and on computer, within the practice. You have a right to view your medical records and can arrange to do so by contacting the practice manager.
The Scottish Offices advises that you are informed of data flow of patient information, as follows:
Care and Treatment
- Routine records are held in your paper records and on the practice patient computer database to help in the provision of care and treatment;
- Records are required in the event of a medical emergency;
- Disclosures may be made by one health professional or organisation to another, e.g. where a GP refers a patient to a specialist;
- Records may be used for clinical audit by health care professionals, to assist in monitoring the patient care pathway against existing standards and benchmarks.
Administration
- Statistical information may be used for administrative purposes, e.g. disclosure by a GP that certain treatments have been provided in order to verify payment for such treatment;
- Information may be used for administrative audits, which may include studies designed to improve organisational efficiency.
Research & Teaching
- Disclosures may be made to disease registries and for epidemiological research;
- Information may be used for clinical trials, hospital-based teaching and university-based teaching, with your consent.
Use and disclosures for non-health purposes
- Disclosures for Crime and Disorder Act 1998 purposes;
- Disclosures to the police;
- Disclosures to the hospital chaplains.