GDPR - Your Data
National Data Opt Out
What is the National Data Opt-Out?
The national data opt-out gives everyone the ability to stop health and adult social care organisations from sharing their confidential patient information for reasons other than providing their individual care and treatment. The national data opt-out only applies where the data processing relies upon Regulation 5 of the Control of Patient Information Regulations 2002.
Individuals can view or change their national data opt-out choice at any time by using the online service at www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters or by calling 0300 303 5678 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
All health and social care organisations in England must be compliant with this policy by 31 July 2022.
The national data opt-out was introduced on 25 May 2018 in line with the National Data Guardian’s recommendations in her review of Data Security, Consent and Opt-Outs. It is supported by the DCB3058 Standard.
GP Data for Planning and Research
NHS Digital use of patient data for Planning or Research.
Patient data from GP medical records, stored by GP practices in England is used every day to improve health, care and related services through planning and research, helping to find better treatments and improve patient care. The NHS is introducing an improved way to share this information - called the General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection.
NHS Digital will collect, analyse, publish, and share this patient data to improve health and care services for everyone, including your individual health care needs. This includes:
· informing and developing health and social care policy
· planning and commissioning health and care services
· taking steps to protect public health (including managing and monitoring the coronavirus pandemic)
· in exceptional circumstances, providing you with individual care
· enabling healthcare and scientific research
Any data that NHS Digital collects will only be used for health and care purposes. It is never shared with marketing or insurance companies.
What patient data they collect
This collection will start from 1 September 2021. Patient data will be collected from GP medical records about:
· any living patient registered at a GP
· any patient who died after the data collection started, and was previously registered at a GP practice in England when the data collection started
They will not collect your name or where you live.
Other data that could directly identify you, for example:
· NHS number,
· General Practice Local Patient Number,
· full postcode
· date of birth,
is replaced with unique codes which are produced by de-identification software before the data is shared with NHS Digital.
This process is called pseudonymisation and means that no one will be able to directly identify you in the data.
Further information regarding this topic can be found by clicking on the link below:
General Practice Data for Planning and Research: NHS Digital Transparency Notice - NHS Digital
Opting out of NHS Digital using your data
If you do not wish to have your personal identifiable data to be used to assist the NHS in developing new improved care and treatment in this way, you can Opt Out.
Type 1 Opt Out – This means your individual medical data will not leave the practice. It will not be shared with NHS Digital or any other organisation except where it is for your individual direct care. How to apply this – the patient has to inform the practice by way of a form (please see below) or verbally that they wish to apply a Type 1 Opt Out.
You can request any of the opt outs at any time, and your data will not be collected for future data collections.
No Personal Identifiable data is used for Planning or Research.
National Data Opt Out – This means that a Patient’s data will be shared with NHS Digital but will not be used for Planning or Research. How to apply this opt out – The patient must go online to ‘Your Data Matters’ (click on link below) or telephone them to apply their own preferences - 0300 303 5678 . The GP practice cannot do this for you.
A Patient may also
Opt out of having a Summary Care Record - SCR
A Summary Care Record is a minimal data set which is shared by the Practice to create a basic record in NHS Digital. This will be used by other NHS Organisations to provide the patient with individual health care. The record contains important health care information such as current conditions, medication, and allergies. This is important for emergency care. How to request this – complete the below form and send to practice.