Privacy Policy

What Information Do We Collect?

UrgentCare North West

Where we share information with non-healthcare organisations we may request that they enter into an information sharing agreement to ensure that the information we share with them is handled appropriately and complies with relevant legislation. The information from your patient record will only be used for purposes that benefit your care – we would never share your information for marketing or insurance purposes unless you have given your explicit consent for us to do so. In all cases where we must pass on health care related information, we will only share the minimum amount of information required. Anyone who receives information from us also has a legal duty to keep it confidential.

You have the right to object to us sharing your information (although this right is not an absolute right). You may also opt out of organisations using your data where it is being used for purposes other than care and treatment. If you need further information on how we might share your data or want to opt out please email our Data Protection Officer at management@ucnw.co.uk.

What if I object to your processing of my information?

GDPR confirms that you have the right to object to the processing of your information, however UCNW may have legitimate grounds to refuse your request if there are compelling grounds for it to do so such that it could override your request. Any objection made by you to processing of your data by us will be considered by our Data Protection Officer, who will make a decision whether or not we should cease processing your data, and will write to you to explain the reasons for the our decision. You have the right to make a complaint to the ICO if you disagree with the decision, or you may be able to bring legal proceedings to appeal the decision should you wish to do so.

GDPR also contains a general right to request that an organisation erase personal data, however, this does not apply to data which is being processed for the purposes of delivering healthcare.

Can you see the information we collect about you?

The data protection legislation gives you the right to know what information we hold about you, what we use it for and if the information is to be shared, who it will be shared with.

You have the right to apply for access to the information we hold about you, free of charge, whether it is stored electronically or on paper. We have a duty to provide this information in a format that is accessible to you (e.g. large print or Braille) and in a way that you can understand, explaining any abbreviations where necessary. Your request must be made in writing and we may ask you to provide proof of identity before we can disclose personal information.

In certain circumstances your right to see some details in your health records may be restricted, for example if the information refers to someone else who hasn’t given their permission, or could cause physical or mental harm to you or someone else (including any health or social care professional) were it to be disclosed; or if the information is being used to detect or prevent crime.

After having viewed your records, if you believe any information is inaccurate or incorrect, please inform us of this in writing and we will take steps to rectify any inaccuracies as quickly as possible and within one month maximum.

How we keep your information safe

We are committed to keeping your information secure and have operational policies and procedures in place to protect your information whether it is in hard copy or electronic format. We protect your information in the following ways:

• Training - Staff are trained to understand their duty of confidentiality and their responsibilities regarding the security of patient information both on our premises and when out in the community. Staff are also obliged to undertake online training in data security and confidentiality on an annual basis to demonstrate that they understand and are complying with our policies on confidentiality.

• Access controls - Staff only have access to patient identifiable information where it is relevant and necessary for them to do so and this information is stored securely in secure locations.

• Investigation - If you believe your information is being viewed inappropriately we will investigate and report our findings to you. If we find that someone has deliberately accessed records about you without permission or good reason, we will tell you and take action. This can include disciplinary action, or bringing criminal charges.

• Legislation - There are laws in place to protect your information, including the General Data Protection Regulation 2016 and the Data Protection Act 2018) and the Human Rights Act 1998. There is also a common law duty of confidentiality.

• Data Protection Officer (“DPO”) – UCNW has appointed a DPO whose role it is to ensure that the organisation has in place appropriate mechanisms and procedures to protect your information and to ensure that personal data is processed lawfully within UCNW. The DPO is Dean Taylor (Director) who can be contacted by emailing management@ucnw.co.uk.

We collect information about you, such as name, address and date of birth, alongside health related information required for the delivery of healthcare services or ambulance transport. This may include:

• Medication, allergies and known medical problems
• The history surrounding your medical problem
• Examination findings and test results
• The treatment given and details of any transport
  This information will be recorded in writing on the Patient Care Record (PCR). To assist with the delivery of care, we may move towards electronic records and transfer the information recorded.

Who Processes The Information?
Urgent Care North West is the Data Controller regarding processing and storing your information. This means that the company determines the purpose for which, and the manner in which your personal data may be processed. The clinicians responsible for delivering your care will collect data.

Are We Entitled To Process Your Information?
As a healthcare service, we have a legal obligation to process your information in line with the Health and Social Care Act 2012. However, you do have the right to say “no” to our use of your information but this could have an impact on our ability to provide you with care.
If we are processing your personal data in ways unrelated to the delivery of direct healthcare or for reasons unrelated to the delivery of your direct healthcare, there may be a different basis on which it would be lawful for us to process your data. For example, if we are processing your data for the purposes of providing you with marketing information, or to keep you updated about our activities, we will need to see your explicit consent for us to process your data in this way.

How do we use the information we collect to help you?

We may use the information we collect to help us provide services to you in the following ways:

• Healthcare professionals, first aiders and others involved in your care need accurate and up-to-date information about you to assess your health and deliver the care you need;
• To ensure information is available if you need to be referred to another health professional or taken to another healthcare facility or hospital
• To assess the type and quality of care you have received and require in the future;
• To ensure your concerns can be properly investigated if you are unhappy with the care you have received.

Do we share information about you with anyone?
There are times when it is appropriate for us to share information about you and your healthcare with others. We may lawfully share your information with the following people:
• GPs;

• NHS Trusts and other healthcare providers involved in your care

We may also need to share your information with other non-healthcare organisations, where it is required in compliance with legal duties. For example, where you are receiving care from a local authority, we would need to share your information with a social worker to support the provision of your care. Other occasions where we may need to share your information include:

• Reporting some infectious diseases;
• To help prevent, detect or prosecute serious crime;
• If a court orders us to do so;
• When you have expressly agreed – e.g. for insurance purposes
• Registering births or deaths;
• If there is a concern that you may be putting either yourself, another person (including a health or social care
  professional) or a child at risk of harm.