Your confidentiality

Keeping information about you private

All of our doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals keep information about you private and respect your right to be seen in private. Information you give us is usually recorded, may be shared in order to provide you with coordinated personalised care, and may be used to support clinical audit and other work to monitor the quality of care we provide. You have the right to object to the use and disclosure of any personal information to anyone. If you do we will explain the effects of this.

If you want to talk about your health in private, just ask

This is important because there may be information you wish to share or we need to know to make sure you receive the best possible care and avoid future difficulties. Some of this information may be highly sensitive and may be about:

  • Relationships
  • Feeling down or anxious
  • Sex
  • Contraception
  • Pregnancy
  • Drugs and alcohol

You may not wish other staff or family members to know about this information and you can tell us with whom we can and cannot share this information.

Of course we will recommend you speak with your family or others in health, education or career if we feel this is in your interest, but we are happy to be guided by you. Involving your parents or legal guardian (if aged under 17) is most often recommended because they are usually involved in making decisions with and for you, and they often speak to health workers on your behalf.

If you want to talk about your health in private, just ask your nurse or doctor.

What you can expect from us

In order for us to provide you with th care you need many people need to be involved. For this to occur we need to record information about you and share it with other staff here and elsewhere in healthcare such as your GP.

In addition, there will be times when we need to look at how we deliver care to many people. This may require us to use information from your records as part of a review or other piece of work. The same rules of confidentiality apply.

In providing a confidential service we adhere to a code of practice that means:

  • Everyone involved is fully aware of their responsibilities regarding confidentiality.
  • Patient information is recorded accurately and consistently; kept provate and secure; and used or disclosed with care.
  • Staff will ask you or your legal guardian before using your personal information in ways that so not directly contribute to your care.
  • Staff will respect your decision to restrict the disclosure or use of information, except where exceptional circumstances apply.
  • Staff will discuss with you the implications if they choose to agree to or restrict the disclosure of your information.

Child protection

Sometimes, people who inspect child protection services may ask to look at the records of children who have been involved with these services. This is to make sure that children are protected from harm. These inspectors must keep your personal information safe and private unless they think you are in danger.

What are the exceptions to confidentiality

We are required by law to declare information that concerns terrorism, drug trafficking offences and safeguarding issues. Safeguarding policies mean that in exceptional circumstances, we will disclose information where we belive a person or those known to them have been or may be in danger.

What to do if you are unhappy about how information about you has been used

If you think that something you have told us hasn't been kept private then please tell is straight away. There may be a good reason for this. If you're still unhappy, you can make a complaint. We have a leaflet that tells you how to do this. Ask your doctor, nurse or health worker for this leaflet or visit the Patient Guide section here.

Want to know more?

If you want to know more about health issues and your right to confidentiality you can visit the following websites or call our Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 01865 738126.