Sharing Patient Information

Anyone making healthcare decisions needs access to high quality information: doctors need it to inform their clinical decision making; patients need it when deciding which treatment is best for them; and commissioners need it when making decisions about which services are right for their populations.

Care.data is a new service being developed by NHS England which aims to achieve this ambition by providing timely, accurate information to citizens, clinicians and commissioners about the treatments and care provided by the health service.

Information about you and the care you receive is shared, in a secure system, by healthcare staff to support your treatment and care.

Information such as your postcode and NHS number, but not your name, will be used to link your records in a secure system, so your identity is protected. Information which does not reveal your identity can then be used by others, such as researchers and those planning health services, to make sure we provide the best care possible for everyone.

How your information is used and shared is controlled by law and strict rules are in place to protect your privacy.

We need to make sure that you know this is happening and the choices you have. Posters and leaflets will be available in the practice and further information can be found at www.england.nhs.uk/caredata