Your Data Matters to the NHS

Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe, and will always be clear about how it is used.

How your data is used

Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnoses is collected about you whenever you use health and care services. It is also used to help both the Practice and other organisations for research and planning, for example research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of Doctors and Nurses in your local Hospital.  It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations. Your choice will only apply to the health and care system in England. This does not apply to health or care services accessed in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

If you are registered with a GP practice in England you will already have a Summary Care Record (SCR), unless you have previously chosen not to have one.  It will contain key information about the medicines you are taking, allergies you suffer from and any adverse reactions to medicines you have had in the past. Information about your healthcare may not be routinely shared across different healthcare organisations and systems. You may need to be treated by health and care professionals that do not know your medical history. Essential details about your healthcare can be difficult to remember, particularly when you are unwell or have complex care needs. Having a Summary Care Record can help by providing healthcare staff treating you with vital information from your health record. This will help the staff involved in your care make better and safer decisions about how best to treat you.

You have a choice

You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used.

If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely. Find out how to make your choice. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

Any choice you make will not impact your individual care.

To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit Your NHS data matters.

You can also view/download the leaflet below for your information.

Your data matters leaflet