Connecting your Care

Connecting Your Care: Improving how we use your information

What do we mean by “Connecting Your Care”?

We are working with South West London Health and Care Partnership to improve the way we connect your care across south west London. Soon, healthcare professionals will be able to access your records from other NHS services when you need them to. This will make it quicker and easier for you when you visit your GP or hospital.

At the moment, each care organisation has a different system for managing your records, and there is no way for the information to be shared electronically when it is needed by doctors and nurses.

Connecting your Care means that people involved in your care such as your GP, hospital doctors and nurses, will be able to immediately see important information about you through a secure system, to help them make the best decisions about your care.

In the future, we will also be working with other health and social care providers to share a more detailed care record for you, which will include the treatment you receive from community NHS services, mental health services and social care services. This will allow everyone involved in your care to be able to make the best decisions for your treatment.

Do I have a choice?

If you are happy for your information to be shared in this way, then you don’t need to do anything.

The Connecting your Care system will be phased in over the next few months.

If you do not want your information to be shared, you have the right to opt-out by visiting www.swlondon.nhs.uk/connectingyourcare and downloading the opt-out form.

You can also pick up an opt-out form from your GP practice or the Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) at your local hospital.

Want to find out more?

To find out more, you can speak to your GP directly or contact South West London Health and Care Partnership on:

www.swlondon.nhs.uk/connectingyourcare
By email: connectingyourcare@swlondon.nhs.uk
By phone: 0203 668 3100
By post: Freepost SWL CONNECTING YOUR CARE

Confidentiality and Medical Records

We respect your right to privacy and keep all your health information confidential and secure. Doctors and staff in the practice are contractually bound to maintain patient confidentiality.

It is important that the NHS keeps accurate and up to date records about your health and treatment so that those treating you can give the best possible care. Confidential patient data may be shared within the practice team, and with other health professionals to whom you are referred for care.

Occasionally patient data may also be required for the broader purposes of health care and audit, research and the provision of health care services. Data disclosure will be kept to the minimum required, and if possible anonymised before disclosure. Confidential and patient identifiable information will not be shared without your explicit consent. In some circumstances we may be required by law to release your details to statutory or other official bodies, for example if a court order is presented, or in the case of public health issues. In other circumstances you may be required to give written consent before information is released – such as for medical reports for insurance, solicitors etc.

Access to your own medical records

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you have a legal right to apply for access to health information held about you. This includes information held by your GP on computer and in paper form. You do not have to give a reason for your request. You may apply to view your medical records or request a copy. For copies of records and there is no facility for immediate access.

Fill out an application form for Access to Medical Records.

Chaperones

All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. This chaperone may be a family member or friend.

Or you may prefer a formal chaperone to be present, i.e. a trained member of staff.
If you wish to have a chaperone present, please tell the healthcare professional or notify reception in advance.

Your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations.

Care Data

Information about you and the care you receive is shared, in a secure system, by healthcare staff to support your treatment and care.

It is important that we, the NHS, can use this information to plan and improve services for all patients. We would like to link information from all the different places where you receive care, such as your GP, hospital and community service, to help us provide a full picture. This will allow us to compare the care you received in one area against the care you received in another, so we can see what has worked best.

Information such as your postcode and NHS number, but not your name, will be used to link your records in a secure system, so your identity is protected. Information which does not reveal your identity can then be used by others, such as researchers and those planning health services, to make sure we provide the best care possible for everyone.

You have a choice

If you are happy for your information to be used in this way you do not have to do anything. If you have any concerns or wish to prevent this from happening, please speak to practice staff or download a copy of the leaflet “How information about you helps us to provide better care” below.
We need to make sure that you know this is happening and the choices you have.

Accessibility Information

We want to get better at communicating with our patients. We want to make sure you can read and understand the information we send you. If you find it hard to read our letters or if you need someone to support you at appointments, please let us know.

We want to know if you need information in braille, large print or easy read. We want to know if you need a British Sign Language interpreter or advocate.

We want to know if we can support you to lipread or use a hearing aid or communication tool.