Confidentiality

We need information about you so you can receive the best possible care. We keep it together with details of your care to ensure the doctor or nurse has up to date information and it may be required each time you are seen.

We will not use or tell others any confidential information obtained in the course of consultation, for any purpose other than your clinical care. The only exceptions are:

1. With the consent of the patient, e.g. filling in insurance forms.
2. If the law requires e.g. in the notification of certain illnesses.
3. If there is an overriding duty to society.

Occasionally the Primary Care Trust or other NHS organisations need to make checks in all practices to ensure they are doing their job properly. If they need to see any clinical information we endeavour to remove details that could identify an individual. All staff working within our premises are aware of the importance of confidentiality to the practice of medicine. Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to maintain highest level of confidentiality.

We have a written policy on confidentiality. If you wish to see it or know more about how we use and store your information, please ask the Practice Manager of the relevant surgery.

When booking appointments or requesting the doctor to telephone you, the receptionist may enquire as to the nature of the problem. This is only to try and allocate the correct timing to the appointment or help the doctor or nurse ascertain the urgency of the problem. You do not have to give this information but it obviously helps considerably if you are able to do so.