Confidentiality

Personal Health Information is any information that identifies you. It includes things like your name, address, date of birth or postcode. It can be linked to information about any care and treatment you have received, information about your health and lifestyle and results of test you have had. This information is kept in records, which can be written on paper, held on computer or both.

  • All NHS staff have a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.
  • The NHS stores your personal health information securely
  • Only relevant information is shared inside the NHS or with outside organisations
  • The NHS will not give information out to organisations such as benefits agencies, employers or the media without your permission.

NHS staff use your information to give you the care and treatment you need. They will share relevant information with other NHS staff involved in your care. This makes caring for you safer, easier and faster. For example, information is shared:

  • If your GP refers you to a hospital
  • You are moved from one hospital to another
  • You need support at home, such as a visit from a district nurse
  • NHS24 refers you to a GP or another part of the NHS.

The NHS uses relevant information about your health to improve the general public’s health and NHS services. It can be used for example:

  • To count the number of cases of diseases
  • To look at how safe and effective a treatment is, for example flu vaccinations
  • To check that the NHS is providing a good service
  • To train students and staff
  • To check that the NHS spends public money properly
  • For research

Wherever possible, your name, address and other information that identifies you is removed. Sometime the NHS uses information that does identify you. If they do this, they should explain to you how and why your information will be used. If they use information which identifies you for teaching or research, they must ask your permission.

As well as NHS staff, you might receive care from a carer, home help, a social worker or others. They might need to know relevant information about your health. Usually it will only be given to them if:

  • You have agreed
  • They need to be able to give you care and treatment.

Usually the NHS will not share your personal health information with people such as a relative or carer or friend without your permission. However there are special cases:

  • If you are a child, the law may allow someone with parental responsibility to see your records and discuss your care.
  • If you are an adult who cannot make decisions for yourself, or cannot tell others your decisions, the law allows someone to see your records and discuss your care, if:
    • You have appointed them to act on your behalf in a power of attorney
    • They have applied to a court and have been granted the power in a guardianship order

In these special cases, that person will not receive information that:

  • You have told NHS staff you don’t want them to have
  • That staff feel would be harmful to your health or the health of others

Sometimes the law allows the NHS to share your personal health information without your permission, for example to investigate a serious crime, or to protect a child.

For further information regarding confidentiality in the NHS, contact:

Data Protection Officer
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Dalian House, PO Box 15329
350 St Vincent Street, GLASGOW
G3 8YZ
Tel: 0141 201 4444
Fax: 0141 201 4401
Text Phone: 0141 201 4400

www.nhsgg.org.uk