Privacy Notice (your health records)

The Lawful Basis we rely on to process your personal data is article 6(1)(e) in conjunction with Article 9(2)(h) for Special Category Data of the GDPR, which allows us to process personal data when this is necessary to perform our public tasks as a National Health Service provider.

Why do you collect information about me?

Your doctor and other health professionals caring for you to keep records about your health and treatment from the National Health Service (NHS). It is in the interest of the patient for a full record to be collected. Your records are either written down (manual records) or held on a computer (electronic records).

These may include details about:

• your address and next of kin
• your hospital visits
• the treatment or the care you receive, results of investigations and /or tests
• information from other health professionals, relatives and those who care or know you well.

Why do you monitor ethnicity?

The Trust serves a multicultural population and ethnicity is monitored because it is important to understand how and why different groups suffer from different conditions. This means we can give you better care and treatment.

How do my records help me?

Your records are used to guide and administer the care you receive. They help us to make sure that:

• we have accurate, up to date information about your health
• you receive the best quality of care
• information is easily accessible within the Trust because this helps us to make decisions about your future healthcare needs
• any concerns you may have about your health are properly investigated.

Who sees my records?

Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to maintain the highest level of confidentiality. Your medical records are kept in secure areas, and generally your records will only be seen by those involved in providing or administering your care. A few administration processes require information that may identify you, however, most processes will use anonymous information.

To make sure you will receive all the care and treatment you need, we might share relevant information about you with other NHS organisations and those outside the NHS. These may include:

• your General Practitioner (GP) and Pharmacies (Chemists)
• another hospital
• local authority departments, including Social Services, Education and Housing
• NHS walk-in centres
• NHS Direct and Care Direct Out-of-hours doctors’ services voluntary organisations
• private sector providers such as private hospitals, care homes, hospices.

We will only share information where it is clearly in your best interests to do so or it is required by law. This includes:

• notification of new births or deaths
• if infectious diseases will endanger the safety of others such as meningitis, tuberculosis or measles (but not HIV or AIDS)
• for child protection reasons
• when a formal court order is issued.

Information will not be passed to your friends, relatives or carers without your signed consent. Your consent is also needed to share information with other organisations (i.e. employers, insurance companies). This information is passed securely and kept confidential by the people who receive it.

Under data protection law, you have rights including:

• Your right of access - You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information.*
• Your right to rectification - You have the right to ask us to rectify the information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete the information you think is incomplete.
• Your right to erasure - You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.
• Your right to restriction of processing - You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your information in certain circumstances.
• Your right to object to processing - You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
• Your right to data portability - You have the right to ask that we transfer the information you gave us to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances.

The National Data Opt-Out

This is a service that allows patients to opt-out of their confidential patient information being used for research and planning. By 30 September 2021 all health and care organisations are required to apply national data opt-outs where confidential patient information is used for research and planning purposes.

Patients can find out more and set their opt-out choice at nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters

How do my records help the NHS?

Your information helps us:

• monitor your quality of care
•  meet the general public’s health needs make sure our services meet future needs
• teach and train healthcare professionals conduct health research, development and audit transfer to other providers to improve care
• investigate a complaint you have made
• prepare statistics on NHS performance.

Access to your health information used for these purposes is controlled and monitored.

When information is used for statistical purposes, we do not identify individual patient’s details. Some information may also be passed on to other organisations with a legitimate interest (i.e. planning services with other organisations outside the NHS).

Notification to the Cancer Registry

The NHS has been contributing to the Cancer Registry for many years to help understand the causes of cancer.

At the moment this is not a legal requirement however we are committed to continuing this practice for the future benefit of cancer sufferers.

The Data Protection Act 2018, allows you to find out information held about you by the Trust.

Children

Children, as well as adults have the right to request a copy of their records and also have the right to request that the Trust stops processing their data. 

If you require access to your health records you can make a verbal or written request through the contact details below: (We will send you a request form for completion and signature. We will also require proof of identity and sometimes other information to ensure we comply with Data Protection Law. We will usually complete your request within one calendar month in line with the DPA 2018).

Health Records Manager
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Homerton Row
London E9 6SR
Email: huh-tr.copyrecordshcr@nhs.net Telephone: 020 8510 7008

You are entitled to receive a copy of both paper and electronic records. In certain circumstances your right to see some details may be limited for your own interest or for another reason, such as the protection of others. If you believe that there is an error in your records you may request that it be corrected or you may ask that a statement from yourself stating the reason for your belief that there is an error is included in your Health Records.

Virtual consultations

We are now offering video consultations to some patients who have been identified by their doctor, nurse or other health professional as potentially suitable for this type of appointment.

Traditional face to face appointments aren’t always convenient, particularly for those who need a number of appointments during their care or who struggle to travel. Sometimes it is possible to have a video consultation rather than going to hospital for these appointments. Feedback shows that many people find this more convenient and have a better experience. For some, it saves time and money as there is no need to travel; for others, it has provided an opportunity to continue their appointments whilst self-isolating. 

You can join a video consultation from wherever is most convenient and comfortable for you be that your home, your work place or even your holiday. If you don’t have the required equipment you can consider asking a friend or relative to help you.

Is a video consultation suitable for me?

You will be contacted by your health care team if they believe you may benefit from a video consultation. They will ensure that your health and care can be appropriately assessed and continued in this appointment format.

You will also need access to certain equipment to be able to join a video consultation: a microphone, camera and screen. Most smartphones, tablets and laptops will be suitable. Please note: only patients who have spoken with their clinician about using a virtual clinic and received confirmation from us of a virtual clinic consultation will be able to access virtual appointments

Where can I get more information?

If you have any questions about how your information is used contact David Waters, Data Protection Officer & Information Governance Manager at the Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on 020 7683 4102 or email huh-tr.ig@nhs.net

Everyone has the right to lodge a complaint with the ICO if they wish to:

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) T: 030 3123 1113

Website: www.ico.gov.uk

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

PALS can provide information and support to patients and carers and will listen to your concerns, suggestions or queries. The service is available between 9.30am and 4pm. Telephone 020 8510 7315, Textphone: 07584 445 400 or email huh-tr.pals.service@nhs.net
For information on the references used to produce this information, please ring 020 8510 5302 or email huh-tr.patientinformation@nhs.net
A voicemail service is available out of office hours.

Additionally, you have a right to complain to the Information Commissioner if ever you are unsatisfied with the way the Trust has handled or shared your personal information:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane 
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF

Tel: 0303 123 1113 (or 01625 545745 if you would prefer not to call an ‘03’ number, or +44 1625 545745 if calling from overseas)
Fax: 01625 524510 

Produced by: Information Governance Service Corporate
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Homerton Row
London
E9 6SR

T:   020 8510 5555
W: www.homerton.nhs.uk