This Practice complies with the Data Protection Act (1998) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018. This means that we will ensure that your information is processed fairly and lawfully.
What personal information do we need to hold?
Your past and current medical & dental condition; personal details such as your date of birth, postal address, email address, telephone number & medical practitioner.
We may need to request details of your NHS number, your height & weight for referrals to local hospitals and CARE UK.
Radiographs, clinical photographs & study models.
Information about treatment we have provided, its purpose and its cost.
Notes of conversations or incidents that might occur for which a record needs to be kept.
Records of consent to treatment.
Any correspondence relating to you with other healthcare professionals, for example in hospital or within community services.
Why do we hold this information?
We need to keep accurate personal data about you, in order to provide you with safe & appropriate medical care. We also need to pass on personal data about you if we are referring you to other clinicians.
Retaining information
We are required to retain your medical records, x-rays and study models while you are a patient of this practice and after you cease to be a patient of this practice, for at least 7 years or until age 25, whichever is longer.
Security
Your information is held within the practice’s medical software program, DGL Practice Manager. This program meets GDPR compliance requirements for sending personal data. The program applies additional levels of protection using multi-factor authentication. Information is only accessible to authorised staff. Personal information will not be removed from this practice without authorised patient consent.
Your personal information is carefully protected by the staff at this practice. All access to information is held securely and can only be accessed by regularly changed passwords. Data is encrypted and computer terminals are closed if unattended.
We may need to disclose your information, in order to provide proper and safe care, to:
- Your general medical practitioner
- The hospital, CARE UK, or community dental services
- Other health professionals treating you
- Private medical schemes of which you are a member
Disclosure will take place on a ‘need to know’ basis, so that only those individuals/organisations who need to know in order to provide care to you and the proper administration of Government (whose personnel are covered by strict confidentiality rules) will be given information.
In very limited circumstances, or when required by law or a court order, personal data may have to be disclosed to a third party not connected with your healthcare.
In all other situations, disclosure that is not covered by this code of practice will only occur when we have your specific consent. Where possible you will be informed of these requests for disclosure.