Patient Data

Market Surgery ensures that all of our patient data is held within the strictest confidence. Our clinical systems can only be accessed by healthcare professionals, with a legitimate medical reason to view your information. We are fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (2018)

Accessing Your Medical Records

Patients are able to access their personal information through a variety of means as detailed below:

Online

The easiest way to view your medical record is by using Patient Online services which gives you the opportunity to view your medical record. This method is both convenient and secure because the online function is username and password controlled. To view your GP medical records online instantly and for free, download the NHS App or log in via the NHS website.

Proxy Access

Adults-to-children Proxy Access: Adults with parental or guardianship rights can have automatic access to their children’s online medical services until their 13th birthday, or longer depending on the individuals circumstances.

Adults-to-Adult Proxy Access: Some adult patients may want to allow a relative, family member, carer or responsible guardian access to their medical records and/or medical Records. This can be done informally by sharing login details with a chosen proxy, or by formally allowing another individual access to your medical record(Please be advised that all persons must be registered with Market Surgery to facilitate this). A proxy access form can be requested from our reception team or accessed here.

Subject Access Request (SAR)

Where a patient does not have access to view their medical record online, they can request a copy of the medical records. SAR’s can be submitted directly to the practice and will be dealt with, within 30 days of your request.

Summarised Notes

As the NHS and technology have evolved, there has been a migration from using paper based records, to electronic records. In 2011 we undertook an extensive workload, to ensure that all patients paper records were summarised into their electronic record. Where a patient is requesting to view their medical records/history, we will always provide the electronic (summarised) version of their record. We kindly askt that any requests for information in its original no-summarised format, are kept to a minimum and are requested only where absolutely necessary as this process is lengthy and very costly – each request for hard copy of notes uses 4 GP appointment slots and comes at a considerable cost to the NHS.

Access to Medical Reports Act (AMRA)

Any requests by or on behalf of individuals, to reports relating to themselves provided by medical practitioners for employment or insurance purposes and to make provision for related matters, must make a written request. As these constitute a chargeable non-NHS service, and are not covered within GDPR legislation, we require payment to be made up front, before any report or copy of examinations are released to the requester.

Opt-outs and privacy notices:

Your GP practice and the NHS use your information to provide your care. Sometimes, confidential patient information is also used to support research, planning and improvement of NHS services. You have a choice about whether your confidential patient information is used for purposes beyond your individual care.

You can set or change your national data opt-out preference at any time by visiting the NHS “Your Data Matters” page: https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters

If you wish to stop your GP practice sharing your data for research and planning before it leaves the practice, you can request a Type 1 opt-out directly from your GP practice. Your data will continue to be used for your individual care. You can find more information about opting out (including a Type 1 opt out form to download) here : https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/opt-out-of-sharing-your-health-records/

NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP)

We understand that patients may have questions or concerns about how their health information is used and protected.

The NHS FDP securely connects information across the NHS so that staff and clinicians can access the right information more easily, helping them to plan and deliver care more effectively.

This practice is not currently using the NHS Federated Data Platform. This means that we are not sending patient data from this practice to the Federated Data Platform, and it is not being stored or used there.

Our patient records continue to be maintained within our systems and we remain responsible for ensuring that information is handled securely, lawfully and only accessed for appropriate purposes. We are committed to keeping patient information safe and using it appropriately and will continue to abide by data protection and confidentiality laws.

You can also read more about the Federated Data Platform on the NHS England website.