Confidentiality
Confidentiality is one of the keystones of medicine. Any information you give us
is treated in the strictest confidence and is not divulged to people not involved
directly in your care without your express permission.
With whom may information be shared?
By giving us private information, it is generally understood that that information
may be shared with some individuals without your direct permission. This is called
implied consent.
Other than the doctor or nurse treating you, any member of staff may need to have
access to your health records, for example:
- other doctors or nurses may be asked for a second opinion on your case
- administration staff will need to access your records to get results, print prescriptions,
type referral letters etc
- if you need to be referred to another health professional, such as physiotherapist,
counsellor or hospital specialist, we will need to share relevant information with
them. However, such referrals will usually have been discussed with you first
- we are a teaching practice, so interesting cases may be discussed with other doctors
as part of our continued learning, with registrars or medical students attached
to the practice.
We may provide anonymous data to the PCT for the purposes of strategic health care
planning. This information is stripped of any details that may identify you personally.
The PCT are also bound by the same rules on confidentiality.
The only other circumstances when information would be shared would be where we
are required by law (such as when directed by the courts) or where we believe that
a crime may be committed that would endanger other people (an obvious example of
this would be suspected child abuse.)
With whom will information not be shared?
We will not share medical information with any one else without your express (and
usually written) permission. This includes the police (except where we directly
ordered by the courts), insurance companies, the council and so on.
We will also not share information with relatives, including spouses, without permission.
Technically, we could not even divulge whether some one has even been into the surgery.
If you have any questions about the issue of confidentiality, please feel free to
speak with the Practice Manager, or your doctor.