Your health records contain a type of data called confidential patient information. This data can be used to help with research and planning.
What is confidential patient information?
Confidential patient information is when 2 types of information from your health records are joined together.
The 2 types of information are:
- Something that can identify you
- Something about your health care or treatment
For example, your name joined with what medicine you take.
Identifiable information on its own is used by health and care services to contact patients and this is not confidential patient information.
How we use your confidential patient information
Your individual care
Health and care staff may use your confidential patient information to help with your treatment and care. For example, when you visit your GP they may look at your records for important information about your health.
Research and planning
Confidential patient information might also be used to plan and improve health and care services research and develop cures for serious illnesses.
Your data your choice
You can stop your confidential patient information being used for research and planning. This is referred to as an opt-out. Any choice you make will not impact your individual care. If you set an opt-out choice, it is recorded against your NHS number on the Spine. It will remain unless you change your mind.
If you're happy with your confidential patient information being used for research and planning you do not need to do anything.
Who must comply with the national data opt-out policy?
When you set a national data opt-out, organisations covered by the opt-out policy must make sure your opt-out choice is respected.
The national data opt-out covers confidential patient information collected about care in England. This includes:
- Publicly-funded, commissioned or coordinated health and adult social care
- Private care given in NHS settings
All organisations providing or coordinating publicly-funded health or adult social care in England will need to comply with the opt-out, even if the organisation’s headquarters are outside England. This includes private, voluntary sector and independent organisations and adult social care. Children's social care services are not within scope of the policy.
For more information visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters
How do I opt-out?
Online
To change your consent preference online you must:
- Be aged 13 or older
- Have access to your email or mobile phone
- Have your NHS number or your postcode registered with your GP surgery
If you need your NHS number please contact us on 01509239166. You will be asked some questions to confirm your identity before we release this information to you.
Complete an online opt-out form
By Phone
You can also make or change a choice for yourself by phone - phone 0300 303 5678 on Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays)
By Post
Print a form to post (EXTERNAL PDF DOWNLOAD)
For someone else by post
Print a form to post (EXTERNAL PDF DOWNLOAD)
Make or change a choice for your children under the age of 13
Print a form to post (EXTERNAL PDF DOWNLOAD)
Make or change a choice for someone you can legally make decisions for
Print a form to post (EXTERNAL PDF DOWNLOAD)