How you can get access to your own health records at Riverside?
Why do we collect information about you?
Your surgery keeps records about your health and any treatment and care you receive from us. The records help to ensure that you receive the best possible care from us. They may be written down manually or held on a computer. The records may include basic details about you such address and next-of-kin contacts we have had with you.
hese may include clinic visits, notes and reports about your health and any treatment and care that you need. Details and records about the treatment and care you receive, results of investigations such as x-ray and laboratory tests.
How your records are used to help you.
Your records are used to guide and administer the are that you receive to ensure that your dentist has accurate and up to date information, to decide what treatment you need when you visit in the future and that full information is available should you see another dentist. Or be referred to a specialist or another part of the NHS or a private sector provider. It also ensures that there is a good basis for assessing the type and quality of care you receive. In this way, your concerns could be properly investigated if you needed to complain.
How your records are used to help the NHS.
Your information may also be used to help us:
- Pay your dentist or the dentist for the care they provide.
- Audit NHS accounts and services.
- Investigate complaints, legal claims or untoward incidents.
- Make sure our services can meet needs in the future.
- Prepare statistics on NHS performance.
- Review the care we provide to ensure that it is of the highest standard.
How we keep your records confidential.
Everyone working for the surgery has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential. You may be receiving care from other surgeries as well as the NHS. We may need to share some information about you so that we can all work together. We will only ever use or pass on information about you if others involved in your care have a genuine need for it. We will not disclose information to third parties without your permission unless there are exceptional circumstances., such as when the health and safety of others is at risk or where the law requires information to be passed on.
Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential. We are required by law to report certain information to the appropriate authorities. This is only provided only after formal permission has been given by a qualified health professional. Occasions when we must pass on information:
- Where we encounter infectious diseases where we may endanger the safety of others. Such as meningitis or measles (but not HIV/AIDS).
- Where a formal court order has been issued.
Our guiding principle is that we are holding your records in strictest confidence.
How you can get access to your dental record at Riverside.
The Data protection Act 1998 allows you to find out what information about you is held on computer and in certain manual records. This is known as ‘right of subject access’. It applies to your health records. If you want to see them, you should make a written request to the practice manager at the surgery where you are being treated. You are entitled to receive a copy, but should note that a charge will be made. You should also be aware that in certain circumstances, your right to see some details in your health record may be limited in your own interest or for other interests.
Who are our partner organisations?
The principle partner organisations with whom information may be shared:
- Health authorities
- Other surgeries
- NHS Trusts
- Primary Care Trusts
- General Practitioners (GP’s)
- Ambulance services
Your information may also (subject to strict agreement describing how it would be used or be shared) be shared with:
- NHS common services agencies such as Primary care support services
- Social services
- Private sector providers
Further Information:
If you would like to know more about how we use your information, or if for any reason you don’t wish to have your information used in any of the ways described in this leaflet, please speak to the dentist or the Practice manager where you are being treatment.