Data Protection

We need to hold personal information about you on our computer systems and in paper records to help us to look after your health needs, and your doctor is responsible for their accuracy and safe-keeping. Please help to keep your record up to date by informing us of any changes to your circumstances.

Doctors and staff in the practice have access to your medical records to enable them to do their jobs. From time to time information may be shared with others involved in your care if it is necessary. Anyone with access to your record is properly trained in confidentiality issues and is governed by both legal and contractual duty to keep your details private.

All information about you is held securely and appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent accidental loss.

In some circumstances we may be required by law to release your details to statutory or other official bodies, for example if a court order is presented, or in the case of public health issues. In other circumstance you may be required to give written consent before information is released – such as for medical reports for insurance, solicitors etc.

To ensure your privacy, we will not disclose information over the telephone or fax unless we are sure that we are talking to you. Information will not be disclosed to family, friends or spouses unless we have prior written consent, and we do not, leave messages with others.

You have a right to see your records if you wish. Please ask at reception if you would like further details about our patient information leaflet. An appointment may be required. In some circumstances a fee may be payable.

SERVICES AND HOW WE PROTECT YOUR DATA

About StockWellBeing PCN

 

Springfield Medical Centre is a member of the StockWellBeing Primary Care Network (PCN). PCNs are groups of GP practices working closely together and with other healthcare and community organisations to provide services to the local population.

Our PCN in Stockwell consists of 5 GP Practices, including Beckett House:

·         Beckett House Practice

·         Binfield Road Practice

·         Grantham Practice

·         Springfield Medical Centre

·         Stockwell Group Practice

Our PCN Services

SOCIAL PRESCRIBING

We work with the community and voluntary sector to offer a range of help and support to patients. Social prescribing is designed to support people with a wide range of social, emotional or practical needs, and many schemes are focused on improving mental health and physical wellbeing. Those who could benefit from social prescribing schemes include people with mild or long-term mental health problems, people with complex needs, people who are socially isolated and those with multiple long-term conditions who frequently attend either primary or secondary health care. If you would like to access this service, please speak to any member of our practice team.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Patients with back and joint pain, including conditions such as arthritis, will now be able to see a physiotherapist without needing to see a GP or be referred to a hospital. Patients can book a physio appointment by speaking to our receptionists.

ENHANCED ACCESS

We work with our PCN practices to offer appointments from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm on weekdays and on Saturdays from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm across our practice sites. You can speak to our reception team to book evening and weekend appointments.

HOW WE USE YOUR DATA

To enable us to provide our Enhanced Access Service to you, clinicians from other practices in our PCN will at times, have access to your full GP record, but only when providing direct care to you.

Team members only have access to information that they need to fulfil their roles. For example, admin staff will normally only see your name, address, contact details, appointment history and registration details in order to book appointments; the practice nurses will normally have access to your immunisation, treatment, significant active and important past histories, your allergies and relevant recent contacts whilst any GP you see or speak to will normally have access to everything in your record.

HOW YOUR DATA IS MANAGED

1. Controller Contact Details

The controller of your data when it is in your practice clinical record will be your registered GP practice.

2. Data Protection Officer Contact Details

John Eni-Uwubame, GP Data Protection Officer, gpdpo@selondonics.nhs.uk.

3. Purpose of the Processing

To provide our patients with direct care.

4. The Lawfulness Conditions and Special Categories

The processing of personal data in the delivery of direct care and for providers’ administrative purposes in this surgery and in support of direct care elsewhere is supported under the following Article 6 and 9 conditions of the GDPR:

  • Article 6(1)(e) ‘…necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority…’.
  • Article 9(2)(h) ‘necessary for the purposes of preventative or occupational medicine for the assessment of the working capacity of the employee, medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems and services…”

We will also recognise your rights established under UK case law collectively known as the “Common Law Duty of Confidentiality”.

5. Recipient or Categories of Recipients of the Shared Data

·         Beckett House Practice

·         Binfield Road Practice

·         Grantham Practice

·         Springfield Medical Centre

·         Stockwell Group Practice

OTHER WAYS INFORMATION MAY BE USED

We may also use your personal data in the following areas:

  • Any complaints you have made directly about the PCN. Please note that complaints regarding general services will be managed at a practice level.
  • Any paid or unpaid work with us, including your involvement in volunteering, public engagement or other projects.
  • Any training, education, supervision delivered to you by us.

 

Other bodies

There are some exceptional circumstances where we must share information with official bodies or other organisations about employees without their express permission. These include circumstances owing to a legal or statutory obligation. These bodies may include:

  • Disclosure and Barring Service
  • Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
  • Financial institutes (e.g. banks, building societies for mortgage references)
  • Educational, training and academic bodies
  • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
  • Home Office

We do not share information about patients for the purpose of invoicing of any patients not entitled to free NHS treatment. Disclosures are only made where a disclosure is essential to prevent a serious threat to public health, national security, the life of the individual or a third party, or to prevent or detect serious crime.

 

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS

6. Rights to Object

You have the right under Article 21 of the GDPR to object to your personal information being processed. Please contact YOUR PRACTICE if you wish to object to the processing of your data. Your practice will have a privacy policy and guidance on how to do this. You should be aware that this is a right to raise an objection, which is not the same as having an absolute right to have your wishes granted in every circumstance.

GP Practices process personal data under Article 6(1)(c) on a lawful and legitimate basis where the organisation is obliged under law to comply with:

  • The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
  • The Freedom of Information Act
  • The NHS Constitution
  • The Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009

By complying with these laws, the Practice has compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms in the right to object.

7. Right to Access and Correct

Under GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the right to see or be given a copy of any personal data we hold about you. To gain access to a copy of your information, you will need to make a Subject Access Request (SAR) to the Practice you are normally registered with.

You also have the right to have incorrect data held about you corrected.

8. Retention Period

The data will be retained for the period as specified in the national NHS records retention schedule.

9. Right to Complain

You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office or call their helpline on 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745 (national rate).

 

 

Page last reviewed: 05 August 2025
Page created: 05 November 2020