GDPR/Privacy

Compass House Medical Centres is part of a new system that brings together patient data from a number of health and care systems and presents it as a single record.

The Devon and Cornwall Care Record enables frontline staff to see details held by GP practices, hospitals, hospices and other organisations across Devon and Cornwall, giving them a more complete view of a patient’s history.

For instance, imagine that you’ve attended A&E with an injury in the morning and been told to see your GP in the afternoon. Under the new system, the GP will be able to see what happened to you in A&E by the time they see you in the afternoon.

Having access to patients’ overall health and medical history will help health professionals identify problems more effectively and make quicker diagnoses.
They’ll be able to see what medication patients are taking, what they’ve taken in the past and if they have any allergies. As well as making treatment safer, this will provide patients with greater continuity of care.

The improved administration will save healthcare staff time chasing down information and spare patients the frustration of having to repeat themselves to various professionals throughout the system. It will also cut down on duplicate appointments and tests and reduce clinical errors. And, by using their time more efficiently, clinicians will be able to spend longer with patients.

You can find out more about the Devon and Cornwall Care Record at: https://www.devonandcornwallcarerecord.nhs.uk/ and on our practice privacy notice: https://compasshousemedical.com/privacy-policy

GP2GP – The Electronic Transfer of Patient Records
We are able to receive most computer held patient records electronically from your previous surgery so they arrive much more quickly than paper notes.

This is called the GP2GP electronic transfer of patient records.

The paper notes will continue to be sent via an NHS delivery service.

Your health records and data choices

Information from your health and care records helps the NHS to provide your individual care. It can also help the NHS to improve services, plan care, and support health and care research.

There are different choices available depending on how your information is being used.

National Data Opt-Out

The National Data Opt-Out allows you to choose whether your confidential patient information can be used for research and planning.

This applies to confidential patient information being used for purposes beyond your individual care and treatment. It does not affect how your information is shared or used for your own care, such as referrals, prescriptions, investigations, hospital care, or communication between health and care professionals involved in your treatment. NHS Digital confirms that patients can view or change their National Data Opt-Out choice at any time.

You can manage your National Data Opt-Out:

through the NHS App
online through the NHS Your Data Matters service
by phone, email or post through the NHS manage your choice service

The NHS App route is: Your Health → Choose if data from your health records is shared for research and planning.

Manage your choice

Type 1 Opt-Out

A Type 1 Opt-Out is separate from the National Data Opt-Out.

A Type 1 Opt-Out tells your GP practice not to share information that identifies you outside of the practice for purposes beyond your direct care, such as research and planning. NHS guidance confirms that this applies to information shared from your GP practice record, while the National Data Opt-Out applies more widely across health and care organisations.

If you choose a Type 1 Opt-Out, NHS England may still be able to collect and share data from other healthcare providers, such as hospitals. To opt out more widely, you should also complete the National Data Opt-Out.

To register a Type 1 Opt-Out, please contact the practice or complete a Type 1 Opt-Out form and return it to us so we can record this in your GP medical record.

Important information

Choosing to opt out will not affect your care.

Your information will still be used where needed to support your individual care and treatment. It may also still be shared where there is a legal requirement, where there is an overriding public interest, or where there is another permitted reason under law.

You can choose to have:

• no opt-out
• a Type 1 Opt-Out only
• a National Data Opt-Out only
• both a Type 1 Opt-Out and a National Data Opt-Out

You can change your mind at any time.

Check our Privacy Notice for more information on how we share data.

This privacy notice describes the data the practice holds about you, why we hold it, where and how we store it, how long for and how we protect it. It also tells you about your rights under the Data Protection Legislation and how the law protects you.

Privacy Notice