Use of Patient Data

From the 25th May, the current UK Data Protection Act 1998 is being replaced by the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.

The new legislation is very similar to the 1998 Act but provides some enhanced rights for individuals around how the Practice uses your information

Why do we Need Your Information?

The NHS Act 2006 and Health and Social Care Act 2012 invests statutory functions on GP Practices to promote and provide the health service to improve quality of services, reduce inequalities, conduct research, review performance of services and deliver education & training. To do this we will need to process your information in accordance with current data protection legislation to:

Protect your vital interests;

  • Pursue our legitimate interests as a provider of medical care, particularly where the individual is a child or vulnerable adult
  • Performs tasks in the public’s interests
  • deliver preventative medicine, medical diagnosis, medical research; and
  • Manage the health and social system and services.

Should require any further information on GDPR or Data Protection Act, this can be found on the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) website:

You can also contact the practice’s Data Protection Officer. When contacting the Data Protection Officer please ensure that you include the details of the practice.

Data Protection Officer: Mr James Carroll

Tel No: 0191 404 1000 Ext 3436

Email address: [email protected]

Details of our privacy notice on Direct Care relating to routine care and  referrals is shown below:

National Diabetes Audit

Our practice is taking part in the National Diabetes Audit (NDA). The NDA collects information about diabetes care from GP practices and hospitals and is used to help the NHS improve care for patients with diabetes.

It is managed by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, working with Diabetes UK and Public Health England. The information that the audit collects is controlled by law and strict rules of confidentiality. You can choose not to take part if you have any any concerns. If you do not want to take part or would like more information please contact Della at the surgery.

Clinical Practice Research Datalink

Our practice contributes to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Information in patient records is important for medical research to develop new treatments and test the safety of medicines. This practice supports medical research by sending some of the information from patient records to the CPRD.

CPRD is a Government organisation that provides anonymised patient data for research to improve patient and public health. You cannot be identified from the information sent to CPRD.

If you do not want anonymised information from your patient record to be used in research you can opt out by speaking to your doctor or the practice manager.

More information can be found at www.cprd.com/public