Privacy Notice

General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and how we use your information

In order to fulfill our responsibilities as a data controller, The Heron Medical Practice is required to keep you informed about  how we collect and processes personal and sensitive personal data from our patients. 

Our Privacy Notices, along with our Record of Processing Activities (ROPA) that are available below explain why we collect information about you, how that information may be used and they explain your patient rights.

Privacy Notice

• Data Protection Privacy Notice
• Privacy Notice - Direct Care
• Privacy Notice - Planning and Research
• Privacy Notice  - Statutory Disclosures

For a record of our processing activities please contact us.

How to opt out of sharing your data

There are different options for sharing your information held at your GP practice and this information is to help you understand what these are and how you can manage this.

Your Summary Care Record is a short summary of your GP medical records. It tells other health and care staff who care for you about the medicines you take and your allergies.

This means they can give you better care if you need health care away from your usual doctor's surgery:

• in an emergency
• when you're on holiday
• when your surgery is closed
• at out-patient clinics
• when you visit a pharmacy

SCRs improve care, but if you don't want to have one you can opt out. Tell your GP or fill in an SCR opt-out form and give it to your GP practice.

More information can be found here

Type 1 and Type 2 Objections

You can also control your personal confidential information by expressing an objection, or opt-out.

Whilst GP s surgeries can still manage Type I opt out objections they can no longer manage Type 2 objections.

A Type 1 opt-out, when present in your GP record, should prevent identifiable information about you being extracted from your GP record, and uploaded to any other organisation, for purposes other than your direct care.  You need to inform the Surgery in writing that you wish to have a Type 1 objection coded in your record. With a Type 1 objection your information is not shared with NHS Digital

A Type 2 opt  out, now known as the National Opt  out prevents the  sharing  of your  records for Care  planning  and  research, your  data  remains within NHS Digital. To set a Type 2 Objection Patients will now need to go to the Your NHS Data Matters website.

Complaints

Should you have any concerns about how your information is managed by the Practice please contact the Practice Manager via email or by writing to the following address:

The Heron Medical Practice
161 Station Road
Herne Bay
Kent
CT6 5NF

If you are still unhappy following a review by the Practice you can then complain to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).