The staff at this practice record information about you. They record info about your health. They do this so you can get the right care and treatment. We need to record this information. It includes the details of the care you receive. We may need it if we see you again.
We may use some of this information for other reasons. For example, to help us protect the public’s health. And to plan for the future, train staff, and do health research for all.
We are in research studies. We provide anonymised information from patients’ notes. This information can’t identify you. It gives researchers none of your personal details. We add patients’ records to a big, anonymous database. It contains records from millions of patients across the UK. This information is used by researchers outside this practice.
The databases to which we contribute anonymised records are managed by companies outside the NHS which do not have access to your personal details, only to anonymous medical records.
Researchers use the data for research purposes. It covers topics such as drug safety. It also covers disease and prescribing patterns. And it covers health and public economics. Many of these studies provide useful data. They give it to medical staff. They cover diseases and drug use. They also cover outcomes of disease or treatment. Academic researchers or companies may do these studies. However, no researcher has access to your full details. These include your name and address, initials, or your full date of birth. The researchers are not given the GP’s information. They are not given the practice’s name, address, or post code.
If you want to opt out of this data collection, please tell your doctor. We will not collect or use any data from your records for research purposes. This will not affect your care in any way.
If the research requires you to provide more about yourself, the practice will contact you. They will ask if you are willing to take part. We will not publish your name in any results.
Note that you have a right of access to your health records.
If you want to know more or have concerns, you can ask your GP or the Practice Manager.