Data Sharing: Research

How your information is used for medical research and to measure the quality of care

Medical research

Snodland Medical Practice shares information from medical records:

• to support medical research when the law allows us to do so, for example to learn more about why people get ill and what treatments might work best;
• we will also use your medical records to carry out research within the practice.

This is important because:

• the use of information from GP medical records is very useful in developing new treatments and medicines;
• medical researchers use information from medical records to help answer important questions about illnesses and disease so that improvements can be made to the care and treatment patients receive.

We share information with the following medical research organisations with your explicit consent or when the law allows: TBA when applicable

You have the right to object to your identifiable information being used or shared for medical research purposes. Please speak to the practice if you wish to object

 

Checking the quality of care - national clinical audits

Snodland Medical Practice contributes to national clinical audits so that healthcare can be checked and reviewed.

• Information from medical records can help doctors and other healthcare workers measure and check the quality of care which is provided to you.
• The results of the checks or audits can show where hospitals are doing well and where they need to improve.
• The results of the checks or audits are used to recommend improvements to patient care.
• Data are sent to NHS Digital, a national body with legal responsibilities to collect data.
• The data will include information about you, such as your NHS Number and date of birth and information about your health which is recorded in coded form - for example the code for diabetes or high blood pressure.
• We will only share your information for national clinical audits or checking purposes when the law allows.
• For more information about national clinical audits see the Healthcare Quality Improvements Partnership website
• You have the right to object to your identifiable information being shared for national clinical audits. Please contact the practice if you wish to object.

 

Your Rights

We are required by law to provide you with the following information about how we handle your information and our legal obligations to share data.

• Data Controller: Snodland Medical Practice, Catts Alley Snodland Kent ME6 5SN
• Data Protection Officer: Dr David Harris Caldicott Guardian

Purpose of the processing

Medical research and to check the quality of care which is given to patients (this is called national clinical audit).

Lawful basis for processing

The following sections of the GDPR mean that we can use medical records for research and to check the quality of care (national clinical audits)

• Article 6(1)(e) – ‘processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller’.

For medical research: there are two possible Article 9 conditions.

• Article 9(2)(a) – ‘the data subject has given explicit consent…’
• AND Article 9(2)(j) – ‘processing is necessary for… scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) based on Union or Member States law which shall be proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and interests of the data subject’.

To check the quality of care (clinical audit):

• Article 9(2)(h) – ‘processing is necessary for the purpose of preventative…medicine…the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems and services...’

Recipient or categories of recipients of the processed data

• For medical research the data will be shared with TBA when applicable
• For national clinical audits which check the quality of care the data will be shared with NHS Digital.

Rights to object and the national data opt-out

You have a right to object under the GDPR and the right to ‘opt-out’ under the national data opt-out model. The national data opt-out model provides an easy way for you to opt-out of:

• information that identifies you being used or shared for medical research purposes and quality checking or audit purposes.

Please contact the practice if you wish to opt-out.

Right to access and correction

• You have the right to access your medical record and have any errors or mistakes corrected. Please speak to a member of staff
• We are not aware of any circumstances in which you will have the right to delete correct information from your medical record; although you are free to obtain your own legal advice if you believe there is no lawful purpose for which we hold the information and contact us if you hold a different view.

Retention period

GP medical records will be kept in line with the law and national guidance. Information on how long records are kept can be found here or speak to the practice.

Right to complain

You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office

HOW TO CONTACT THE ICO