Data Sharing

National Opt-Out Facility  

“This practice is supporting vital health and care planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital. For more information about this see the GP Practice Privacy Notice for General Practice Data for Planning and Research.

National OPT OUT FORM – please email form to [email protected] and your records will be coded appropriately.

You can choose whether your confidential patient information is used for research and planning.

Who can use your confidential patient information for research and planning?

It is used by the NHS, local authorities, university and hospital researchers, medical colleges and pharmaceutical companies researching new treatments.

Making your data opt-out choice

You can choose to opt out of sharing your confidential patient information for research and planning. There may still be times when your confidential patient information is used: for example, during an epidemic where there might be a risk to you or to other people’s health. You can also still consent to take part in a specific research project.

Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?

No, your confidential patient information will still be used for your individual care. Choosing to opt out will not affect your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.

What should you do next?

You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your confidential patient information is used.

If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or through a telephone service.

You can change your choice at any time. To find out more or to make your choice visit nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters or call 0300 303 5678

MIG (Medical Interoperability Gateway)

From time to time it is helpful for us to be able to share information about your health and care requirements with other health organisations that are responsible for providing you with healthcare. Across Nottinghamshire we are introducing a new system called MIG (Medical Interoperability Gateway) which will enable us to make relevant medical information available from your GP record with other healthcare professionals who are providing you with direct care. The MIG allows for relevant information to be viewed by other healthcare professionals, however before your information is accessed you will be asked for your explicit consent. Examples of organisations that may access your GP health information include NEMS Out of Hours team, walk in centres and local A&E departments.

Sharing of information in this way is designed to ensure that the healthcare professionals looking after you have the most relevant information to enable them to provide you with the most appropriate care. The type of information shared is restricted and includes a summary of current problems, current medication, allergies, recent tests, diagnosis, procedures, investigations, risks and warnings – all this information is currently held in your GP system record.

We have automatically set up the sharing facility to allow your information to be made available via the MIG. Whenever a clinician from another healthcare organisation wishes to view your GP information via the MIG they will always seek your permission before doing so; if you say “NO” they will not be able to see any information and no data will be made viewable via the MIG.

If you have any concerns about the sharing of your information or do not want your information being made available via the MIG please speak to your practice who can advise accordingly.

How sharing information in your medical records can help the NHS to provide better care.

A modern information system has been developed, which will make increased use of information from medical records with the intention of improving health services. The system is being delivered by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC)  and  NHS England on behalf of the NHS.

 The new system will provide joined-up information about the care received from all of the different parts of the health service, including hospitals and GP practices.

Your date of birth, full postcode,  NHS Number  and gender rather than your name will be used to link your records in a secure system, managed by the HSCIC. Once this information has been linked a new record will be created. This new record will not contain information that identifies you. The type of information shared, and how it is shared, is controlled by law and strict confidentiality rules.

If you are happy for your information to be used then you do not need to do anything. But if you have concerns you should talk to your GP.

If you do not want information that identifies you from being shared outside your GP practice, talk to a member of staff at your practice. They will make a note of this in your medical record. This will prevent your information being used other than where necessary by law, such as in case of a public health emergency. You will also be able to restrict the use of information held by other places you receive care from. However, this will not affect the care you receive.

For more information about how data is collected and shared, including confidentiality, please visit

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/records/healthrecords/Pages/care-data.aspx

eDSM

SystmOne is a computer system that The Alice Medical Centre and other people looking after patients can use to record medical information and other relevant information discussed at your time of contact. Not everyone uses this particular system, but many GPs and Community Health services in area use this system to record patient notes. A facility is now available in this system which allows your Detailed Care Record to be shared between clinicians and other different care services, who are involved with your care. This cannot normally happen without your permission and there are series of “consent procedures” that staff must follow if they want to share information about you, or to see information that another service has recorded. If you give consent, your care record held by your GP practice or medical service will be shared with other medical services involved in your care (such as district nursing, health visiting, physiotherapy), who use the same system. This will provide health professionals with a better view of your whole healthcare.

For further information, click on the link and read the attached leaflet – Data Sharing Leaflet.