Sharing Your Information

How can be my information be viewed outside of Meanwood Group Practice?

Your health information can be shared both locally and nationally at differing levels of detail.

For direct care locally in Leeds: Leeds Care Record
Patients in Leeds are able to benefit from the sharing of information via the Leeds Care Record. This shares contact details, diagnosis list, medications, allergies, test results, referrals & letters and care plans between health professionals in Leeds. Information is shared by GP practices, the Hospital trusts, Community and Mental Health services, and Social Care.

You have the right to object to your Leeds Care Record being shared by contacting them directly. Details are available via their website.

Download a leaflet on Leeds Care Record or visit their website https://www.leedscarerecord.org/

This is also available in an Easy Read version.

You can opt in and out of these sharing agreements whenever you choose. Details of these schemes are as follows:

Nationally for direct care: Summary Care Record – sharing your information for your care across the NHS.
Your core Summary Care Record is created when you register at a GP practice (although you should be given the option to opt in/out during your registration). If you do not express a preference, it is currently assumed that your consent is implied.

The Summary Care Record shares only your contact details, medications and allergies with other healthcare professionals involved in your care.

You can also choose to share a Summary Care Record with Additional Information. This shares contact details, medications, allergies, diagnosis list, care plans, end of life care and immunisations with other healthcare professionals. Sensitive data is excluded. A Summary Care Record with Additional Information will only be created for you if you explicitly choose this option.  Only the most up to date information is shared for each category (EMISWeb).  All current and past information is shared for each category (SystmOne).

Choosing to share a summary care record with additional information is thought to be of great benefit if you are admitted to hospital locally or elsewhere in the UK.

You can opt out of sharing any of your information in a Summary Care Record. If you decide not to share this will not affect your entitlement to care. However, it could result in the delivery of your care being less efficient as other health professionals will not have access to these parts of your medical history.

Further details are available in this leaflet.

This is also available in an Easy Read version.

You can change your mind about your Summary Care Record at any time.

To register or change your Summary Care Record preferences, please complete this form and return it to us.

Summary Care Record Consent

 

Nationally: The national data-out.  For purposes beyond direct care.

NHS Digital is developing a new system to support the national data opt-out which will give patients more control over how identifiable health and care information is used for reasons other than your individual care and treatment. The system will offer patients and the public the opportunity to make an informed choice about whether they wish their personally identifiable data to be used for purposes beyond their direct care such as research and planning purposes.

In the past, you may have already chosen to prevent your identifiable data leaving NHS Digital, known as a Type 2 opt-out. All existing Type 2 opt-outs will be converted to the new national data opt-out and this will be confirmed by a letter to all individuals aged 13 or over with an existing Type 2 in place. Once the national data opt-out is launched, it will no longer be possible to change preferences via local GP practices.

The national data opt-out is due to be launched on 25 May 2018.

UPDATE:  OCTOBER 2018

A new national data opt-out model, launched in May, replaces the ‘type 2’ opt-out. The new model provides an online facility for individuals to opt-out from the use of their confidential data for purposes other than direct care i.e. for the purposes research and health service planning. Patients who had previously registered a ‘type 2’ opt-out have had this converted into a national data opt-out. It is important that patients are aware of their right to opt-out.

Despite efforts to raise public awareness as part of the Information Commissioner’s Office ‘your data matters’ campaign recently published figures show that uptake of the national opt-out has been lower than expected.

Patients can set their opt-out preferences at: https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/ They will need their NHS number and a valid email address or telephone number which is on the GP record or on the Personal Demographics Service database to register their decision to opt out.

Patients who are unable to use the online facility can use a phone helpline to manage their choice – 0300 303 5678.

A paper print-and-post form is also available: https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/manage-your-choice/other-ways-to-manage-your-choice/

More information is available via https://digital.nhs.uk/national-data-opt-out

More information about health and care records in general can be found on the NHS website here: NHS Choices

If you have any queries or concerns about how your information is handled, please do not hesitate to contact Martin Howard for further information.