Important information for patients

• Your information is handled in-line with laws on data protection and confidentiality and the NHS Codes of Confidentiality.
• We share medical records with health professionals who are involved in providing you with care and treatment. This is on a need to know basis.
• In some circumstances we will also share medical records for medical research, for example to find out more about why people get ill.
• We share information when the law requires us to do so, for example, to prevent infectious diseases from spreading, to check the care being provided to you is safe or to safeguard vulnerable people.
• We share some of your information with out of hours and emergency care services.
• Information is shared to manage national screening campaigns such as cervical cytology and diabetes prevention.
• You have the right to be given a copy of your medical record.
• You have the right to object to your medical records being shared with those who provide you with care but this may limit your treatment options.
• You have the right to object to your information being used for medical research and to plan health services.
• You have the right to have any mistakes corrected and to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

For more details on the use of your information and your rights please read our full Fair Processing Notice.

For children, please read our Privacy Notice for Children.