Personal information is protected by encryption
- Your basic details, such as address and next of kin contacts they have had with you such as clinic visits
- Details about the treatment, care and support that you need and receive
- Results of investigations, such as x-rays and laboratory tests
- Relevant information from other health and social care professionals, relatives or those who care for you and know you well
How your information is used…to help you
Your information helps us to manage the care you receive to make sure that:
- Those involved with your care have accurate and up-to-date information to
assess your needs and provide support - Full information is available should you need to see another doctor or be referred to a specialist
There is information to help us decide if you received the right type and quality of care and support - Your concerns can be fully investigated if you need to complain
Help us to help you by letting us know if you change address by simply calling We will then update our records straight away so all future correspondence is sent to the right address.
. . . and to help us
- The hospital holds thousands of patient records in secure store rooms
- Look after the health of the general public
- Pay your GP, dentist and other hospitals for care they provide
- Prepare statistics on performance, and review and plan services
- Train and teach health and social care professionals
- Audit our accounts and services
- Investigate complaints, legal claims or untoward incidents
- Conduct research and development
How we keep your information confidential
Our promise to you is that we are holding your information in strict confidence.
Everyone working for us has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential and access to it is strictly and securely controlled. We will make sure that your right to confidentiality is upheld unless we have a legal duty to release information or we have obtained your consent to do so.
If you are receiving care and support from both the NHS in Barnsley and Barnsley Council, we may need to share some information about you so that we can work together for your benefit. We only pass on information about you if there is a genuine need to know, and anyone who receives the information is also under a legal duty to maintain confidentiality.
We will not give out your information to third parties except under exceptional circumstances, such as when the health and safety of others is at risk or where the law requires us to do so, for example infectious diseases (e.g. measles or meningitis, but not HIV/AIDS).
Access to your records
The Data Protection Act 1998 allows you to find out what information we hold about you. You can request informal access to your records by speaking to the professional staff involved in your care. If you think some of the information in your records is inaccurate you are entitled by law to ask for it to be corrected.
In special circumstances the law allows us not to show you your information, such as if we consider it harmful to you, or another person’s, physical and/or mental wellbeing. For formal access to your records you must make a request in writing or by e-mail to the relevant contact below.
Where you are under the care of more than one partner organisation, this person will liaise with the other contact(s) to source the information. Please note that under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 you may be charged to access your records (up to a maximum of £10 per request), with an overall limit of £50 where copies are provided.
Freedom of information (FOI)
As a patient you can have access to your records but you can also have more information such as our performance, our spending and our meetings.
If you can’t find what you are looking for please ask the department you have been dealing with or contact our dedicated FOI team.
Further information
If you would like to know more about how we use your information or if you have any concerns about how your information is used, please speak to the professional staff involved in your care.
If you are not happy with their response you may approach the relevant organisation:
- Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
The Medical Records Co-ordinator
Information Services
Barnsley Hospital NFT
Gawber Road
Barnsley
S75 2EP
Tel: 01226 432545
- South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
The Data Protection Officer
Information Services
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Kendray Hospital
Doncaster Road
Barnsley
S70 3RD
Tel: 01226 434180
E-mail: dp_officer@barnsleypct.nhs.uk
- Barnsley Council
Adult Social Services Directorate,
Business Support Section
Wellington House
Wellington Street
Barnsley
S70 1WA
Tel: 01226 772165