Sharing Your Data
The law requires Alpha Medical Practice to share information from your medical records in certain circumstances. Information is shared so that the NHS or Public Health England can, for example:
- Plan and manage services.
- Check that the care being provided is safe.
- Prevent infectious diseases from spreading.
We will share information with NHS Digital, the Care Quality Commission and local health protection team (or Public Health England) when the law requires us to do so. We must also share your information if a court of law orders us to do so. Please see below for more information.
Your Care Connected (YCC)
YCC is an electronic record sharing system that allows authorised health and care staff to securely view key aspects of the GP record, to provide patients with better and safer care.
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
The CQC regulates health and social care services to endure that safe care is provided. The law says that we must report cetain serious events to the CQC, e.g. when patient safety has been put at risk.
Public Health
The law requires us to share data for public health reasons, e.g. to prevent the spread of infectious diseases or other diseases which threaten the health of the population. We will report the relevant information to local health protection team or Public Health England.
Handling Your Data
We are required by law to provide you with the following information about how we handle your information and our legal obligations to share data.
Data Controller Contact Details
Alpha Medical Practice.
Data Protection Officer
Dr Yahya Mahmood.
Purpose of the Processing
Compliance with legal obligations or court oder.
Lawful Basis of Processing
The following sections of the GDPR mean that we can share information when the law tells us to:
- Article 6(1)(c) – ‘Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject…’
- Article 9(2)(h) – ‘Processing is necessaty for the purpose of preventative… medicine… the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems and services…’
Recipient or Categories of Recipients of the Processed Data
Listed below are recipients in which we share your data with:
- NHS Digital.
- Care Quality Commission (or equivalent body).
- Our local health protection team or Public Health England.
- The court if ordered.
Rights to Object and the National Data Opt-out
There are very limited rights to object when the law requires information to be shared but government policy allows some rights of objection as set out below.
NHS Digital
You have the right to object to information being shared with NHS Digital for reasons other than your own direct care. This is called a ‘Type 1’ objection – you can ask your practice to apply this code to your record.
Please note: The ‘Type 1’ objection, however, will no longer be available after 2020. This means you will not be able to object to your data being shared with NHS Digital when it is legally required under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. (All above information is in England only).
NHS Digital Sharing with the Home Office
There is no right of objection to NHS Digital sharing names and addresses of patients who are suspected of having committed an immigration offence.
Public Health
Legally information must be shared under public health legislation. This means that you are unable to object.
Care Quality Commission
Legally information must be shared when the Care Quality Commission (or name of equivalent body) needs it for their regulatory functions. This means that you are unable to object.
Court Order
Your information must be shared if it ordered by a court. This means that you are unable to object.
Your Data
See the guidelines set out below for other information about your data that have not been previously mentioned.
Rights to Access and Correct
You have the right to access your medical record and have any errors or mistakes corrected. Please speak to a member of staff or look at our ‘subject access request’ policy on the practice website.
We are not aware of any circumstances in which you will have the right to delete correct information from your medical record; although you are free to obtain your own legal advice if you believe there is no lawful purpose for which we hold the information and contact us if you hold a different view.
Retention Period
GP medical records will be kept in line with the law and national guidance. Information on how long records are kept can be found here or speak to the practice.
Right to Complain
You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. If you wish to complain follow this link or call the helpline 0303 123 1113.