Privacy Notice For Children

This notice explains why the surgery collect information about you, how we keep it safe and private, and how we may use that information.

Why Do We Collect Information About You?

Doctors and nurses have to keep a record about your health and any treatment that we give you. This is called your ‘GP record’, and helps us to really look after you. Your record is only used to help doctors and nurses keep you well – and make you better when you are not so well.

What Do We Record?

We keep a record of every time that you see someone at the surgery, as well as times that you have been somewhere else, such as in the A+E department of the hospital.

We keep a record of:

• Your name, address and information about those looking after you (eg: your parents)
• Your home phone number and mobile number (if you have one) or email address, if you want us to
• Details of the times you have seen a doctor or nurse at the surgery, and in other places
• Any tests you have had (eg; Xray)

How We Keep Your Information Safe and Private

Your GP record is kept on a really secure computer system. Only doctors, nurses and receptionists that we give permission to can look at your information. It is very difficult for anyone to hack into that system.

If you are old enough to have a mobile number or email address then we will only use that to contact you when it is about your healthcare – like reminding you about an appointment. If you don’t want us to send you any text messages then please let us know. We will not use you telephone or email address to contact you about things other than your healthcare.

Your information is very private. Our doctors, nurses and receptionists respect that and work very hard to protect your information.

Sometimes we have to share your information with others:

• If you are unwell and we do not know what is wrong we may ask the doctors at the hospital to see you, and we will send some notes with you.
• Sometimes ‘it’s the law’ that requires us to share information and we could be in big trouble if we don’t, for instance, if a judge asks us for information.
• If the police tell us to the we have to share information with them.
• If you’re ill and we are worried that you have an infection that may spread to your family and friends we might need to let the right people to know, to protect them.
• Sometimes we have to tell other people if we are worried that you are in danger.

Whenever we can we would always tell you first before sharing your information.

Some other medical staff, such as the doctors and nurses at the A+E department, can take a look at our records about your health if you see them when the surgery is closed. The information in your GP record may be very helpful to them when they are trying to make you better. For instance, you may have had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic in the past and by checking your record they will know to avoid it. You don’t have to say yes if they ask you, and you can ask the surgery not to allow anyone to look at you GP record in this way if you want.

Other Computers

The doctors and nurses at the surgery can also look at some of your hospital records – for example if you went to A+E and had a blood test we could look at the results. This information can be very useful for us.

Any Questions?

If you have any questions then please do ask someone at the surgery. Alternatively you (or your mum or dad) can ask Dr Darren Watts or Mrs Amanda Howell.