The Data Protection Act 1998 requires that all organisations processing personal data keep this information safely and securely. You have a legal right to confidentiality and we are required to ensure that it complies fully with all its legal obligations in this area, including data protection.
Request for personal data
The Data Protection Act also give you the right to access personal information held about them by NHS HMR.
Requests should be made in writing and the information required should be clearly stipulated (e.g.personnel file). If applicable, the name of the service used or the particular health centre visited should be provided as well. Requests should also include a name, date of birth and contact details. Requests should be sent to:
Clinical Quality Team
NHS Heywood Middleton and Rochdale
1st Floor, London House
Oldham Road
Middleton
Manchester
M24 1AY
How much does it cost?
The law allows organisations to charge a fee for each request processed. We may charge between £10 and £50 depending on whether the records are held electronically or in a paper file (We reserve the right to vary this fee up to themaximum £50 set by law).
How long will it take?
Usually requests for your personal data will be answered within the statutory 40 days set out in the Data Protection Act.
Further information
The NHS Care Record Guarantee contains further information on accessing your health records it also covers the way the NHS holds and uses all personal data.
Additional information and guidance about accessing your personal data or about data protection in general is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office. The Commissioner is the person responsible for enforcing compliance with the Data Protection Act in the UK.
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45
www.ico.gov.uk
