WHO HAS ACCESS TO MY MEDICAL RECORDS?
All information about patients is private and confidential; whether it is heard, seen in writing, or on a computer record.

Identifiable patient information is only shared within The Health Centre team and, in the case of referral, to the clinician to whom the patient is referred. Disclosure of identifiable patient information to any other outside agencies will only be done after receiving written permission from the patient.

This also means that your partner, spouse, children, other relatives or friends cannot access your medical records without your consent.


CAN I ACCESS MY MEDICAL RECORDS?
You have a right of access to your health records. The Data Protection Act (1998) [1] gives you the right of access to all information that The Health Centre holds on you manually and on computer. It is your legal right to see your records and if you so wish, to obtain a photocopy of them. Only in exceptional circumstance can access be withheld.

If you would like to apply for access to information held about you, please complete a form from The Health Centre or download and print it here:

Access to medical records (PDF) [2]


DO I HAVE ACCESS TO MY CHILDREN’S MEDICAL RECORD?
Yes you can if your child is under the age of 16. However, children over the age of 16 must give consent, preferably in writing, to The Health Centre to enable sharing of patient information with to be shared with specified persons.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE HEALTH CENTRE WANTS TO CONTACT ME?
If a member of The Health Centre needs to contact you on the telephone, they will ask to speak with you. Should someone else answer the telephone, the name of the caller and the reason for calling will not be given. This is to ensure that your right to privacy is upheld. Likewise, messages will not be left on answer machines unless essential.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE YOUR CORRECT PERSONAL DETAILS, INCLUDING A CURRENT CONTACT NUMBER!