Your information

We hold information about you to help us provide safe and effective healthcare and to ensure that your records are accurate and up to date. This page explains what information we keep, why it is needed, how it may be stored and shared, and how your information may be used to help plan and improve healthcare and support approved research.

You can see a summary of what what information we store and how it is used, by viewing our How we use your information leaflet (PDF).

Consent to allow access to medical information to a third party

You may wish to nominate a representative to communicate with us about you; If you wish to nominate somebody then please complete and return ourthird party authotity form (Word document). You will then receive a phone call to verify the request.

How we use you information

There are a number of ways your information may be used to support your care and help improve health services. Open the items below to find out more about how your information is used and why.

Enables clinicians from anywhere in the UK to access parts of your medical records, including allergies, medication and adverse reactions, so you can receive appropriate treatment if you become unwell and cannot attend your usual GP practice.

The consulting clinician will always ask for your permission to view your records. When this happens, audits and alerts are generated. You can review when and why your care record has been viewed by a healthcare organisation outside of Abbottswood Medical Centre through your online access.

For further information, visit the NHS Summary Care Record information. If, after reading this, you would like to opt out, please complete the SCR opt-out form (PDF) and return it to the practice so that we can update your records.

You can choose to have additional information included on your Summary Care Record, which can enhance the care you receive. This information includes:

  • Your illnesses and health problems.
  • Operations and vaccinations you have had in the past.
  • How you would like to be treated - such as where you would prefer to receive care.
  • What support you might need.
  • Who should be contacted for more information about you.

If you would like this information adding to your Summary Care Record, please complete the additional information consent form (PDF) and return it to us.

Dear patient

We have been asked to share the following important information with you. This practice is supporting vital health and care planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital. For more information, see the GP Practice Privacy Notice for General Practice Data for Planning and Research and the NHS information about General Practice Data for Planning and Research.

This collection will start in September 2021.

If you do not want your data to be shared with NHS Digital, please register your Type 1 Opt-out with your GP practice by 1 September 2021.

What data is shared:

Data may be shared from GP medical records about:

  • Any living patient registered at a GP practice in England when the collection started, including children and adults.
  • Any patient who died after 1 July 2021 and was previously registered at a GP practice in England when the data collection started.

NHS Digital will not collect patients’ names or addresses. Any other data that could directly identify patients, such as NHS Number, date of birth or full postcode, is replaced with unique codes produced by de-identification software before the data is shared with NHS Digital.

This process is called pseudonymisation and means that patients will not be identified directly in the data. NHS Digital will be able to use the software to convert the unique codes back to data that could directly identify patients in certain circumstances and where there is a valid legal reason.

If you would prefer that your identifiable patient data is only shared for your own healthcare purposes, you can opt out by registering a Type 1 Opt-out or a National Data Opt-out, or both.

These opt-outs are different and they are explained in more detail below. Your individual care will not be affected if you opt out using either option, or both.

A Type 1 Opt-out has to be registered by your practice. Complete and return the Type 1 Opt-out form (PDF) to the practice.

A National Data Opt-out can be registered without contacting your practice. Find out more and manage your National Data Opt-out on the NHS website.

Allows an instant view of your accurate, up-to-date vital clinical information to be available to the out-of-hours service and Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Navigation Unit. This enables them to provide enhanced and more efficient care should you need treatment outside of surgery hours.

If you wish to opt out of this service, please download the EPR opt-out form (PDF), complete it and return it to the practice so that we can update your records.

You can review when and why your care record has been viewed by a healthcare organisation outside of Abbottswood Medical Centre through your online access.

The National Diabetes Audit (NDA) collects information from primary and secondary care about diabetes care to help the NHS improve services. The use of NDA information is controlled by law and strict rules of confidentiality. The data extraction collects clinical information about diabetes, along with NHS number, date of birth and postcode to match primary and secondary care records. This identifying information is then removed, leaving anonymised data.

If you would like to find out more, please read the National Diabetes Audit patient information leaflet (PDF) or visit the National Diabetes Audit website.

If, after reading this information, you wish to opt out of this data extraction, please download the National Diabetes Audit opt-out form (PDF), complete it and return it to the practice. We can then add a code to your records to prevent the data extraction from taking place.