Confidentiality and Security

Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential and secure.

You may be receiving care from other organisations as well as the NHS e.g. Social Services and the Voluntary Sector.  We may need to share some information about you so we can all work together for your benefit.  We will only ever use or pass on information about you if others involved in your care have a genuine need for it.  When we pass on any information we will ensure it is kept confidential and secure.

Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential and secure.

We are required by law to report certain information to the appropriate authorities.  This is only provided after formal permission has been given by a qualified health professional, as defined under the Data Protection Legislation.  Occasions when we must pass on information include:

  • Notification of births and deaths
  • Where we encounter infectious diseases which may endanger the safety of others such as measles and meningitis
  • Child Protection cases
  • When there is a formal court order requesting disclosure
  • Benefits agency
  • National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse to monitor the availability, capacity and effectiveness of treatment for drug misuse in England.