Your records and privacy
What we record#
Fill this in: what a record contains in your practice — history, examinations, images, tests, correspondence, notes, consent forms, payments. Listing it removes the impression that something is being kept back.
Who can see it#
| Who | What they see |
|---|---|
| The clinicians treating you | Your full record |
| Reception and administration | What they need to book and bill |
| Another practice you are referred to | What is sent with the referral, with your agreement |
| Your insurer | What you authorise for a claim |
| Anybody else | Only with your consent, or where the law requires it |
Fill this in: check every row above against how your practice actually works, and add the legal obligations that apply where you are. A privacy page that describes somebody else's rules protects nobody.
Talking to somebody else about your care#
Fill this in: how a patient nominates somebody we may speak to, how that is recorded, and how it is withdrawn. Say explicitly what happens when a relative calls without a nomination on file.
Getting a copy#
Fill this in: how a request is made — in person, in writing, by email — and whether a form is needed.
We check identity before releasing anything. This is the protection, not an obstacle.
Fill this in: how long this takes and whether there is a charge, quoting the rule that applies where you are rather than a number you chose.
Fill this in: how the copy is delivered, and in what format images and notes arrive.
Correcting something#
If something in your record is factually wrong, tell us and we will correct it. A clinical opinion you disagree with is not removed, but your disagreement is recorded alongside it — that is how a record stays honest in both directions.
How long records are kept#
Fill this in: the retention period that applies where you are, including the different period for children, and what happens to records if the practice closes or changes hands.
If you move to another practice, ask us for your records rather than assuming they follow you. A transfer requested by you is faster than one requested by anybody else.