In order to provide you medical care and treatment, I and those working with me (for example my medical secretary) will ask for information about you and your health. On occasions, I may receive information from other medical practitioners who have been involved in providing you with care.
This privacy notice describes the type of personal information I hold, why I hold it and what I do with it.
Information that I collect
I collect the following information about you:
- Personal details such as your name, date of birth, address, telephone number and email address;
- Information about your gynaecological and general health, including:
- Clinical records made by doctors and other medical professionals involved with your care and treatment;
- X-rays, clinical photographs and other images such as ultrasound scans;
- Medical histories;
- Details of your medical insurance;
- Treatment plans and consent;
- Notes of conversations with you about your care;
- Dates of your appointments;
- Details of any complaints you have made and how these complaints were dealt with;
- Correspondence with other health professionals or institutions; and
- Details of the fees we have charged, the amounts you have paid and some payment details.
How I use your information
To provide you with the medical care and treatment that you need, I require up-to-date and accurate information about you and your state of health. I may also request information from other medical practitioners who have been involved in providing you with medical care.
I will share your information with the provider of any private medical insurance to you in connection with your medical treatment to the extent required under the terms of your insurance agreement with them.
How I will contact you
I will seek your preference for how I contact you about your medical care. My usual methods are telephone, encrypted email or letter.
Sharing Information
Your information is normally used only by me, my medical secretary and others working with me to provide you with treatment, but there may be instances where I need to share it – for example, with:
- Your GP;
- The hospital or other health professionals caring for you; or
- Private medical insurance schemes of which you are a member.
I will only disclose your information on a need-to-know basis and will limit any information that I share to the minimum necessary.
In certain circumstances or if required by law, I may need to disclose your information to a third party not connected with your health care, including HMRC or other law enforcement or government agencies. Such information will only be disclosed to the extent required by law.
Keeping Your information Safe
I use high-quality specialist medical software to record, store and use your personal information safely and effectively. Your information cannot be accessed by anyone other than me and my medical secretary.
I am required by law to keep your records for a minimum of 11 years or until you reach the age of 25 years, whichever is the longer, but electronic records may be kept indefinitely.
Access to Your Information and Other Rights
You have a right to access the information that I hold about you and to receive a copy.
You should submit your request to me or my medical secretary in writing or by email. I do not usually charge you for copies of your information; if I pass on a charge, I will explain the reasons.
You can also request me to:
- Correct any information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. If I have disclosed that information to a third party, I will let them know about the change;
- Erase information I hold that I am not by law required to keep, although you should be aware that I may for legal reasons be unable to erase certain information (for example, information about your treatment);
- Stop using your information – for example, sending you reminders for appointments ; or
- Supply your information electronically to another doctor.
If You Do Not Agree
If you do not wish me to use your personal information as described, you should discuss the matter with me or my medical secretary. If you object to the way that I collect and use your information, I may not be able to offer you medical care.
