Practice Privacy Statement

Lifford Health Centre
Practice Privacy Statement

This Practice wants to ensure the highest standard of medical care for our patients. We understand that a General Practice is a trusted community governed by an ethic of privacy and confidentiality. Our practices are consistent with the Medical Council guidelines and the privacy principles of the Data Protection Acts. We see our patients consent as being the key factor in dealing with their health information. This leaflet is about making consent meaningful by advising you of our policies and practices on dealing with your medical information.

MANAGING YOUR INFORMATION

In order to provide for your care here 4. Opening letters from hospital and consultants.

we need to collect and keep information about The letters could be appended to a patient’s paper
you and your health on our records. file or scanned into their electronic patient

We retain your information securely. record.
We will only ask for and keep information 5. Scanning clinical letters, radiology reports and

that is necessary. We will attempt to keep it any other documents not available in electronic
as accurate and up to-date as possible. We format.
will explain the need for any information we 6. Downloading laboratory results and Out of
ask for if you are not sure why it is needed. Hours Coop reports and performing integration

We ask you to inform us about any of these results into the electronic patient record.

relevant changes that we should know about. 7. Photocopying or printing documents for
This would include such things as a new referral to consultants, attending an antenatal
treatments or investigations being carried out clinic or when a patient is changing GP.
that we are not aware of. Please also inform 8. Checking for a patient if a hospital or
us of change of address and phone numbers. Consultant letter is back or if a laboratory or

All persons in the practice (not radiology result is back, in order to schedule a

already covered by a professional confidentiality conversation with the GP.
code) sign a confidentiality agreement that 9. When a patient makes contact with a practice,
explicitly makes clear their duties in relation checking if they are due for any preventative
to personal health information and the services, such as vaccination, ante natal visit,
consequences of breaching that duty. Contraceptive pill check, cervical smear test, etc.

Access to patient records is regulated 10. Handling, printing, photocopying and

to ensure that they are used only to the extent                              postage of medico legal and life assurance r
necessary to enable the secretary or manager reports, and of associated documents.
to perform their tasks for the proper functioning
of the practice. In this regard, patients should
understand that practice staff may have access
to their records for:   DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO
OTHER HEALTH AND SOCIAL PROFESSIONALS

Identifying and printing repeat

prescriptions for patients. These are then reviewed - We may need to pass some of this information
and signed by the GP. To other health and social care professionals in

Generating a social welfare certificate order to provide you with the treatment and

for the patient. This is then checked and signed by services you need. Only the relevant part of your
the GP. Record will be released. These other

Typing referral letters to hospital professionals are also legally bound to treat your

consultants or allied health professionals such as                         information with the same duty of care and
physiotherapists, occupational therapists,                                      confidence that we do.
psychologists and dietitians.

DISCLOSURES REQUIRED OR PERMITTED USE OF INFORMATION FOR
UNDER LAW RESEARCH, AUDIT, AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

The law provides that in certain instances It is usual for patient information to be used

personal information (including health information) for these purposes in order to improve services
can be disclosed, for example, in the case of and standards of practice.
infectious disease.

Disclosure of information to Employers, In fact GP’s on the specialist GP register of the

Insurance Companies and Solicitors. Medical Council are now required to perform

In general, work related Medical Certificates audits. In general, information used for such

from your GP will only provide a confirmation that purposes is done in an anonymous manner with
you are unfit for work with an indication of when you all personal identifying information removed.
will be fit to resume work. Where it is considered
necessary to provide additional information we will If it were proposed to use your information in a
discuss that with you. However, Social Welfare way where it would not be anonymous or the
Certificates of Incapacity for work must include the Practice was involved in external research we
medical reason you are unfit to work. Would discuss this further with you before we

In the case of disclosures to insurance proceeded and seek your written informed

companies or requests made by solicitors for your consent.
records we will only release the information with
your signed consent.                                                                          Please remember that the quality of the patient
service provided can only be maintained and improved by training, teaching, audit and
research.

USE OF INFORMATION FOR TRAINING, YOUR RIGHT OF ACCESS TO YOUR
TEACHING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE HEALTH INFORMATION

It is usual for GP’s to discuss patient case histories as                 You have the right of access to all the personal
Part of their continuing medical education or for the purpose information held about you by this practice. If
Of training GP’s and / or medical students. In these you wish to see your records in most cases it is
Situations the identity of the patient concerned will not the quickest to discuss this with your doctor who
Be revealed. Will outlined the information in the record with
You. You can make a formal written access request to the practice and the matter can be dealt
In other situations, however, it may be beneficial for with formally. There may be a charge of up to
Other doctors within the practice to be aware of patients €6.35 where a formal request is made.
With particular conditions and in such cases this practice
Would only communicate the information necessary to
Provide the highest level of care to the patient.   TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER
  PRACTICE
Other practice is involved in the training of GP’s and is
Attached to the ABCD Vocational Training Programme. If you decide at any time and for whatever
As part of this programme GP Registrars will work in the            reason to transfer to another practice we will
Practice and may be involved in your care. Facilitate that decision by making available to
                                                                                                                Your new doctor a copy of your records on
                                                                                                                Receipt of your signed consent from your new
                                                                                                                Doctor. For medico-legal reasons we will also
                                                                                                                Retain a copy of your records in this practice for
                                                                                                                An appropriate period of time which may exceed
                                                                                                                Eight years.
                                                                                                                We Hope this leaflet has explained any issues
                                                                                                                That might arise. If you have any questions please speak to the practice secretary or your doctor.