NHS England is commissioning a modern data service from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIS) on behalf of the entire health and social care system. Information about you and the care you receive is shared, in a secure system, by healthcare staff to support your treatment and care.
It is important that we, the NHS, can use this information to plan and improve services for all patients. We would like to link information from all the different places where you receive care, such as your GP, hospital and community service to help us provide a full picture. This will allow us to compare the care you receive in one area against the care you receive in another, so we can see what has worked best.
Information such as your postcode and NHS number, but not your name, will be used to link your records in a secure system, so your identity is protected. Information which does not reveal your identity can then be used by others, such as researchers and those planning health services, to make sure we provide the best care possible for everyone.
How information is used and shared is controlled by law and strict rules are in place to protect your privacy.
We need to make sure that you know this is happening and the choices you have.
We have leaflets available in surgery detailing this in full.
You do have the right to prevent confidential information about you from being shared or used for any purpose other than providing your care, except in special circumstances. If you do not want information that identifies you to be shared outside your GP practise, ask at the practise and we will note this in your medical record.
If you are happy for your information to be shared you do not need to do anything. There is no form to fill in and nothing to sign and you can change your mind at any time. If you have concerns or are not happy for your information to be shared, speak to your GP practise.
For more information, including a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), please go to the website at www.nhs.uk/caredata.
You can also get information from the website at www.nscic.gov.uk or speak to us at the surgery.