Data Protection

Protection and Use of Patient Information

GP's place paramount importance on service and your expectations to provide you with optimum health care and treatment.  To this end, we need accurate personal information from you, which we review regularly for changes in circumstances.  To ensure that you receive the best possible care and that we can all work together for your benefit, there may be occasions when we need to share some information about you with others. 

Everyone working for NHS Grampian or collaborative organisations (e.g. social work) receiving information from us has a professional and legal duty to keep information about you confidential. 

The main reasons for which your information may be needed are:

• To provide you with health care and treatment.

• Looking after the health and social welfare of the general public.

• Ensuring that our services can meet patients' needs in the future.

• Helping staff review care provided, thus ensuring the highest standard.

• Training and educating staff (consent will always be obtained first).

• Investigating complaints or legal claims.

• Statistical analysis and research (you will NOT be identified in any published results or papers without prior consent).

• Preparing statistics on performance and activity (steps are taken to ensure you cannot be identified).

If you would like to know more about how we use your information, please ask to speak to the person in charge of your care.

You have a right to obtain information we hold about you (for a fee) by making a subject access request. Access can be made by contacting the practice manager.

You are entitled to access certain information about the surgery, its staff and activities. You are also entitled to access clinical and personal information held about you.

All information at the Old Machar Medical Practice is held, retained and destroyed in accordance with NHS guidelines.

Below is the current legal situation with regards the sharing of patient records: