Your Rights, Our Responsibilities

It is not possible for us to provide you with the best possible standards of health care without our keeping information about you. This information includes your name, address, date of birth, next of kin and details of your medical history. We keep this information solely for the purposes of caring for your health. the records are stored on both paper and computer, and may include other forms such as x-rays and photographs.

We have a legal responsibility to keep confidential all the information held about you. These obligations, together with the rights that every individual enjoys, are set out in the Data Protection Act 1998.

Information about you may need to be shared (with your permission) with others involved in your medical care from time to time - for example, with a hospital consultant. The sharing of medical information is specifically covered by the Act. It says that the sharing of sensitive, patient-related information is permissible for "medical purposes" provided that it is processed by :

• A health professional - e.g. GP, Nurse, Health Visitor
• A person who, though not a health professional, has responsibility to preserve confidentiality - e.g. your legal representative.

With your permission, we may also share your medical information with your medical insurers, accident insurers or others you nominate.

To help improve the standards of health care, information from your records may also be used for research and statistical analysis. In the Data Protection Act 1998, "medical purposes" is defined to include "preventative medicine, medical diagnosis, medical research, the provision of care and treatment and the management of healthcare services".

You do have the right to prevent processing and sharing of your information. However, the professionals involved in your care may encounter difficulties and delays if they are unable to share important health information.

Your Rights

The Data Protection Act 1998 gives every individual a number of rights. In brief, you have the right to:

• Access information held about you - please note: in accordance with the Act a fee may be charged for this service - to a maximum of £10 for copies of computerised records and £50 for copies of paper-based records.
• Prevent processing of information likely to cause distress
• Prevent use of information about you for direct marketing
• Correct an inaccurate record
• Seek compensation if you suffer damage through breach of confidentiality
• Have an assessment made if your think the Act has been contravened

Our Obligations

The Data Protection Act 1998 imposes a number of obligations on our services. In brief, these are:

• Information about you will be processed fairly and lawfully
• Information will be used solely for planning and delivering your health care and will not be used in an inappropriate way
• The information recorded about you will be adequate and relevant, but not excessive
• The information will be accurate and up to date
• Information will be kept no longer than necessary
• All of the information will be processed within the clinic in accordance with your rights
• We will take all necessary measures to prevent unlawful processing, accidental loss, damage or destruction
• Information will not be transferred to a country outside the European Economic Area, unless the country provides adequate protection of your rights as regards the processing of information and you have given your permission.

Further Information

Should you need any further information about the application of the Data Protection Act 1998 within Avon Chiropractic Healthcare please e-mail us to discuss it with Dr M. Delahaye

You can also contact the office of the Information Commissioner who has responsibility for ensuring good practice in all aspects of Data Protection - leaflet request line - 0870 600 8100. Their website is www.dataprotection.gov.uk.

Warwick Chiropractic Clinic
54 Saltisford
Warwick
CV34 4TD
( 01926 419404

Stratford Chiropractic Clinic
Swan House, 11 Guild Street
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 6RE
( 01789 264000