What does confidentiality mean?
It means keeping your information safe and private.
Healthcare staff ensure that all your health information remains confidential, including:
- Anything you say
- Notes or records made about you
- Details of any treatment you've received
You can speak to healthcare workers about any aspect of your health with confidence.
Will my parents be given information about me?
Usually, the healthcare workers are not allowed to tell your parents anything you have talked to them about, unless you have given your permission. However, they may suggest that you talk to your parents or an adult you trust. If a health worker may want to send out information to you and you don’t want your parents to see this, you can:
Ask to collect it yourself, or
Request that nothing is sent.
What if my parents want to look at my health records?
Your health records include information about your health and any treatment you have had. Usually your parents can’t see your health records, unless you agree to this. If there’s something in your health records that you don’t want your parents to see, inform the surgery. If your doctor doesn’t think you can make decisions about your health care, your parents may be allowed to see your health records without you agreeing to it. But this would only happen if the doctor thought it was best for you.
Can I see my own health records?
Yes. You should be able to see your records in a way that you can understand. Any codes or words you don’t understand should be explained to you. You may want to know about treatment you’ve had, or check that information about you is correct. It’s your choice whether to look at your health records. To find out more about seeing your health records, ask to speak to a member of the Reception Team.
Who else can see my records?
If your parent or guardian has been given “proxy access” to your online medical records, then this access will be revoked once you reach the age of 16. If you wish to have your own access to Online Services, you will need to visit the surgery with photo ID and complete a form. Sometimes, people who inspect child protection services may ask to look at the records of young people who have been involved with these services. This is to make sure that children are protected from harm. These inspectors are required to keep your information private unless they believe you are at risk of harm.
What if I’m unhappy about how my information has been kept or used?
If you think that what you’ve told a health worker hasn’t been kept private or that something in your health records is wrong, please tell one of the health workers who has been involved in your care, or ask your parent or another adult you trust to do this for you.
If you’re still unhappy, it’s okay to make a complaint. Check out the practice Complaints leaflet
Can I have a preferred name added to my record?
Yes, just let the surgery know. We can add a “known as” name to your record so we as a practice can call you by your preferred name.