Data Choices

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 always being 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 us and other organisations for research and planning such as 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.

Wherever possible we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.

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 online or through a telephone service. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

JUNE 2021 – NHS Digital – General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDfPR)- Data Collection

NHS Digital has recently announced it is setting up a new primary care data collection service.

NHS Digital will not collect patients’ names or addresses. Any other data that could directly identify patients (such as NHS Number, date of birth, full postcode) will be replaced with unique codes which are produced by de-identification software before the data is shared with NHS Digital. Known as pseudonymisation.

NHS Digital will share pseudonymised data with any relevant organisation so that they can use the data to improve health and care services going forward.

Although please note NHS Digital will be able to use software to convert the unique codes back to data that could directly identify patients in certain circumstances, and where there is a valid legal reason and where they meet strict criteria to use the information for local, regional and national planning, policy development, commissioning, public health and research purposes.

This personal / patient data may then be shared with relevant organisations who can help with that patient’s care.  If you decide you do not want your data shared please follow web link below to opt out – You DO NOT need to contact the surgery to opt out.

Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?

No, choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.

What do you need to do?

If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you do not need to do anything.

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

Download a copy of the patient leaflet
>