Confidentiality and Disclosure

 

We understand that your health care information, including appointments, is personal and sensitive. We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of this information and providing you with information regarding our privacy policy. Information about your appointments and the services you access through us at the the Family Practice Group is confidential and cannot be disclosed to others without your written consent unless one of the following apply:

Without confidentiality, it would be very difficult to build enough trust in the relationship between you and ourselves for us to be effective in the services we provide you and your family.

The respecting of client confidentiality is a fundamental requirement for keeping trust. The professional management of confidentiality requires the protection of personally identifiable and sensitive information from unauthorised disclosure.

When we may breach confidentiality

The Law

If we are compelled to do so by the Police or the Courts.

 

Safeguarding

If we believe there to be a significant risk to your own wellbeing.

 
 

Risk of Harm

Where we have reason to believe that someone, especially a child, is at risk of harm.

 
 
 

Permitted by Law

Where disclosure is permitted by law and required to protect our interest.

GDPR

 

  • We are committed to protecting your privacy and will only use information collected lawfully in accordance with:

    Data Protection Act 2018

    Human Rights Act 1998

    Common Law Duty of Confidentiality

    Health and Social Care Act 2012

    NHS Codes of Confidentiality and Information Security

    Information: To Share or Not to Share Review (click here to read further information about this)

    Every member of staff and associate who works for the Family Practice Group has a legal obligation to keep information about you confidential. All staff employed by the Family Practice Group including its associates are requested to sign a confidentiality agreement upon appointment. Any breaches of this agreement will be dealt with by disciplinary, and if necessary, legal means.

    We will only ever use or pass on information about you if others involved in your care have a genuine need for it. We will not disclose your information to any 3rd party without your permission unless there are exceptional circumstances (i.e. life or death situations), or where the law requires information to be passed on for example Child/Adult Protection and Serious Criminal Activity.

  • You have a right under the Data Protection Act 2018 to request access to view or to obtain copies of what information the practice holds about you and to have it amended should it be inaccurate.

    In order to request this you need to do the following:

    Your request must be made in writing addressed to the Practice Manager

    There is no charge to have a printed copy of the information held about you

    Under the Data Protection Act 2018 we may impose a charge for printed copies of the same information if these can be deemed as excessive requests.

    We are required to respond to you within 30 days

    You will need to give adequate information (for example full name, address, date of birth, NHS number and details of your request) so that your identity can be verified and your records located

  • Should you have any concerns about how your information is managed by us, please contact the Practice Manager. If you are still unhappy you can then complain to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) via their website (www.ico.org.uk).

  • The Data Protection Act 2018 requires organisations to register a notification with the Information Commissioner to describe the purposes for which they process personal and sensitive information.

    This information is publicly available on the Information Commissioners Office website www.ico.org.uk

    The Family Practice Group is registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).

  • This is the person/people or organisation that is responsible for using and recording your information. All staff employed at the Family Practice Group are individual data processors

  • The Data Controller, responsible for keeping your information secure and confidential is the Family Practice Group

  • Records which the Family Practice Group hold about you may include the following information:

    Details about you, such as your address, legal representative, emergency contact details.

    Any contact the practice has had with you, including telephone calls, emails and appointments.

    Notes and reports about your health.

    Details about your treatment and care.

    Relevant information from other health professionals, relatives or those who care for you.

    For clients referred to us by the NHS your records will be retained in accordance with the NHS Code of Practice for Records Management.

    To ensure you receive the best possible care, your records are used to facilitate the care you receive. Information held about you may be used to help protect the health of the public and to help us manage the NHS.

  • For independent practitioners general guidance is that many independent psychologists keep records relating to contact with adults for 7 years, and follow NHS guidance in relation to children.