Information about your health and care is used by the NHS and social care services to support your treatment and help improve healthcare services for everyone.

Sharing relevant information between healthcare professionals allows them to provide safe, effective, and coordinated care. This can help ensure that the right information is available when it is needed, reducing delays and improving patient outcomes.

Your Choice

You have choices about how your confidential patient information is used.

You can choose:

• Whether information that could identify you is shared beyond your GP practice for purposes other than your direct care.
• Whether confidential patient information is used for research and planning purposes beyond your individual care.

If you have previously registered an opt-out, this will remain in place unless you decide to change your preference.

If you would like to discuss your information-sharing preferences, please contact the Practice.

National Data Opt-Out

The National Data Opt-Out allows patients to choose whether their confidential patient information is used for research and planning purposes beyond their individual care and treatment.

Choosing to opt out will not affect:

• Your medical care or treatment.
• Access to NHS services.
• Screening programmes and other services that form part of your direct care.

For more information, or to register, view, or change your choice, please visit:

https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters

or

https://digital.nhs.uk/services/national-data-opt-out

When the National Data Opt-Out Applies

The National Data Opt-Out generally applies when confidential patient information is being used for purposes beyond your individual care, such as:

• Health service planning
• Certain types of medical research
• Population health analysis

These uses are subject to strict legal safeguards and data protection requirements.

When the National Data Opt-Out Does Not Apply

There are certain circumstances where information may still be used or shared, including:

Your Direct Care

Information needed to provide your healthcare will continue to be shared with the professionals involved in your treatment.

Anonymised Information

Where information has been anonymised so that you cannot be identified, the National Data Opt-Out does not apply.

Legal Requirements

Information may be shared when required by law, including:

• Court orders
• Safeguarding concerns
• Public health protection
• Statutory investigations
• Regulatory requirements

Public Interest

In exceptional circumstances, information may be shared where there is an overriding public interest, such as protecting individuals from serious harm.

Patient Consent

Where you have explicitly consented to your information being used for a specific purpose, such as participation in a research study.

Individual Care and Treatment

The National Data Guardian defines individual care as activities relating to:

• Preventing illness
• Diagnosing and treating health conditions
• Providing health and social care support
• Improving patient outcomes
• Delivering safe, effective care

Information sharing for these purposes is considered an essential part of healthcare delivery and is not affected by a National Data Opt-Out.

Protecting Your Confidentiality

Crocus Medical Practice follows strict NHS confidentiality and data protection requirements.

Your information is:

• Stored securely.
• Accessed only by authorised individuals.
• Shared only when there is a lawful basis to do so.
• Protected by UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and NHS Information Governance standards.

Further Information

To learn more about how patient information is used across the NHS, please visit:

• www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters
• digital.nhs.uk/services/national-data-opt-out
• www.ico.org.uk

If you would like advice about your information-sharing preferences or have questions about your records, please contact Crocus Medical Practice and a member of our team will be happy to help.