Updated for the UK GDPR 2021 and Data Protection Act 2018
- Why NEMS collects information about you and how it is used
- Who we may share information with
- Your right to see your health records and how we keep your records confidential
Why we collect information about you
We aim to provide you with the highest quality of health care. To do this we must keep records about you, your health and the care we have provided or plan to provide to you.
These records may include:
- Basic details about you, such as address, date of birth, next of kin
- Contact we have had with you such as clinical visits
- Details and records about your treatment and care
- Results of x-rays, laboratory test etc.,
- Relevant information from people who care for you and know you well, such as health professionals and relatives
It is good practice for people in the NHS who provide care to:
- discuss and agree with you what they are going to record about you
- give you a copy of letters they are writing about you; and
- show you what they have recorded about you, if you ask.
We will only store your information in identifiable form for a long as in necessary in and in accordance with the NHS England’s Rules found here: -
https://digital.nhs.uk/media/1158/Records-Management-Code-of-Practice-for-Health-and-Social-Care-2016/pdf/Records-management-COP-HSC-2016.
How your records are used
The people who care for you use your records to:
- Provide a good basis for all health decisions made by you and care professionals
- Allow you to work with those providing care
- Make sure your care is safe and effective, and
- Work effectively with others providing you with care
Others may also need to use records about you to:
- check the quality of care (such as clinical audit)
- protect the health of the public
- keep track of NHS spending
- manage the health service
- help investigate any concerns or complaints you or your family have about your health care
- teach health workers and
- help with research
Some information will be held centrally to be used for statistical purposes. In these instances, we take strict measures to ensure that individual patients cannot be identified.
We use anonymous information, wherever possible, but on occasions we may use personally confidential information for essential NHS purposes such as research and auditing. However, this information will only be used with your consent, unless the law requires us to pass on the information.
How we keep your records confidential
Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.
We have a duty to
- Maintain full and accurate records of the care we provide to you
- Keep records about you confidential, secure and accurate
- Provide information in a format that is accessible to you (i.e., in large type if you are partially sighted).
We will not share information that identifies you for any reason, unless:
- you ask us to do so;
- we ask, and you give us specific permission;
- we must do this by law;
- we have special permission for health or research purposes or
- we have special permission because the interests of the public are thought to be of greater importance than your confidentiality
Our guiding principle is that we are holding your records in STRICT CONFIDENCE
Who are our partner organisations?
We may share information with the following main partner organisations:
- Your own GP Practice
- NHS Trusts / Organisations (Hospitals, ICB’s)
- Community health services
- Ambulance Service
- Social Services
- Our Commissioners
We may also share your information, with your consent and subject to strict sharing protocols about how it will be used,
With:
- Education Services
- Local Authorities
- Voluntary Sector Providers
- Private Sector
Anyone who receives information from us also has a legal duty to: KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL!
The legal Part
You have a right to privacy under the General Data Protection Regulation 2016 (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act. NEMS needs your personal, sensitive and confidential data in order perform our statutory health duties, in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller in compliance with Article 6 (e) of the GDPR and
for the purposes of preventive or occupational medicine, for the assessment of the working capacity of the employee, medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems and services on the in compliance with Article 9, (h) of the GDPR.
You have the right to ask for a copy of all records about you.
- Your request should be made in writing to NEMS
- We are required to respond to you within one Month
- You will need to give adequate information (for example full name, address, date of birth NHS number etc.)
To access your record contact:
NEMS Quality Governance Manager, NEMS Community Benefit Services, Platform One, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3AJ
Email: nemsl.governance@nhs.net
If you think anything is inaccurate or incorrect, please inform NEMS as soon as possible. For other rights about the use of your information please view our full patient privacy policy here
The NEMS Data Protection Officer is Paul Couldrey PCDC, and is available via email: info@pcdc.org.uk Tel: 07477 052036
If you believe NEMS has breached any of your Data Protection Rights.
You have a right to complain to the UK supervisory Authority as below.
Information Commissioner:
Wycliffe house
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF