Why we collect your Information

The doctors, nurses and team of healthcare professionals caring for you keep records about your health and any treatment and care you receive from the NHS. These records help to ensure that you receive the best possible care.  They may be written on paper or held on a computer system.  These records may include:

• Basic details about you such as name, address, date of birth, next of kin, GP practice etc.
• Contact we have had with you such as your appointments, inpatients stay or clinic visits.
• Notes and reports about your health and any treatment and care you may have received or need.
• Results of clinical investigations such as x-rays, scans and laboratory tests and photography
• Relevant information from other health and social care providers, local authorities, voluntary organisations, relatives or those who know you well and who care for you.

It is important that we have accurate and up to date information about you so that we can give you the best possible care. Please ALWAYS check that your personal details are correct whenever you visit us and tell us if there are any changes, for example, changes to your contact details or GP practice as soon as possible. This minimises the risk of you not receiving important correspondence from the Trust.

Our computer system that holds your record is linked to the National Patient Demographic Service (PDS), which is maintained by GPs. Patient demographic details are transferred from the PDS to the hospital system (PAS). Therefore it is extremely important that your information as recorded on the GP system is accurate and up to date at all times.  NNUH staff cannot update the GP System. NNUH staff can override PAS to ensure the information we hold is accurate, but we advise patients to contact their GP to inform them of any changes in your personal information.