How we use and protect your information

Data collection and personal information

Data collection is when your information is collected, with your consent, and stored confidentially in your health and social care record. This information may include:

contact details such as name, address and telephone number;
personal facts about you such as date of birth, gender, disability, sexual orientation

ethnicity, religion or belief;

NHS number and next of kin;
contacts we have had with you, such as appointments and test results
prescribed medicines;
things you have told us about your health;
details of your treatment and the professional opinion of the staff caring for you.

We may collect this information during your first contact with AWP or at a later date when you are in our care or using our services.
We may ask you or your carer for this information.

How do you store my information?

This information is securely stored on our electronic record system or in a paper record.

How do you use my information?

Staff caring for you will use your information and the record about your health and your previous care to help them give you the best treatment.

Administration staff will use some of your information to organise appointments and to send you information.

Like all NHS Trusts, we sometimes use ‘anonymised’ patient records to:

review the quality of care we provide;
see if there are any gaps or inequalities;
plan new services;
train and educate our staff.

Anonymised means we take out anything which would identify you, such as your name.

What is confidentiality?

Confidentiality means keeping the information you give us safe and not sharing it unnecessarily with others.

Under the NHS Confidentiality Code of Conduct, all our staff are required to:

protect your information;
inform you how your information will be used;
let you to decide if and how your information can be shared. This will be recorded in your clinical records.

When information is shared, it is passed securely and kept confidential by the people who receive it. It will only be used for the purpose it has been shared for.

Sharing your information with carers and relatives

With your consent, information can be shared with relatives, partners or friends who act as a carer for you. Or with your legal representatives.

The first time we see you, we will ask your permission to do this.

Sharing information with other organisations

To save you having to give your information every time you receive care or services, we will routinely share your information with other organisations caring for you; such as:

your GP and primary care team (with updates on your treatment);
your local pharmacy;
local authorities, such as social services, children's services, housing and benefit offices;
other NHS organisations where you have treatment.

If you do not want us to share your information with other organisations, you will still receive the care you need. But you will need to give this information to everyone who needs it to care for you. If you are not happy to share your information with other agencies, please speak to your healthcare professional.

Summary Care Records (SCRs) are an electronic record of important information about you, created from GP medical records. These can be viewed by other health and pharmacy staff and can give them instant information in out of hours, urgent and emergency situations.

You can ‘opt’ out of having a SCR or or ‘opt out of having additional information included in it. Please contact your GP.

Sharing your information without consent

We will usually tell you before we share your information. However, there are times when we may need to share your information without your consent; such as

where there is a risk of harm to you or other people
where a serious crime, such as assault, is being investigated or where it could be prevented
to control infectious diseases such as meningitis, tuberculosis (TB) or measles
notification of a birth
where the courts have made a formal order in relation to a court case
where there is a legal requirement, for example a road traffic offence has been committed.

We will discuss this with you if we need to do this.