The practice complies with the Data Protection Act. All information about patients is confidential: from the most sensitive diagnosis, to the fact of having visited the surgery or being registered at the Practice. All patients can expect that their personal information will not be disclosed without their permission except in the most exceptional of circumstances, when somebody is at grave risk of serious harm.
All staff working within the NHS will have access to your medical records and adhere to the highest standards of maintaining confidentiality and are trained in their responsibility to protect it. If necessary, information is shared with other health care professionals if they are involved with your care. If you need referring to a hospital consultant, your doctor will explain this to you and obtain your consent to do so.
No information will be given to a third party without the consent of the patient involved. You cannot request information about your spouse, partner or child over 16 without their consent being given to us in writing.
As our reception area is a little public, if you wish to discuss something of a confidential nature please mention it to one of the receptionists who will make arrangements for you to have the necessary privacy.
You have the right to read any report before it is sent, provided that you have stated so in your written consent. The only exception to these rules are governed by law.
Under 16s
The duty of confidentiality owed to a person under 16 is as great as the duty owed to any other person. Young people aged under 16 years can choose to see health professionals, without informing their parents or carers. If a GP considers that the young person is competent to make decisions about their health, then the GP can give advice, prescribe and treat the young person without seeking further consent.
However, in terms of good practice, health professionals will encourage young people to discuss issues with a parent or carer. As with older people, sometimes the law requires us to report information to appropriate authorities in order to protect young people or members of the public.