Data Protection and how it affects you

When you are referred to the hospice, you will be seen by a member of staff. You will be asked about your current concerns and the impact your illness is having on your family. This is to find out what kind of help the hospice may be able to offer. We will then agree a management plan with you.

The following explains what happens to the information you provide. It also explains who this may be shared with, so that we can provide your care.

You will be asked to sign a form (see Appendix 1 on the document you can download below) or give verbal consent to the sharing of this information.

• Notes of your meeting with us become part of your medical record. These are updated every time you have contact with us.

• These are separate from your NHS records. They are kept securely at the hospice in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

• A number of professional staff at the hospice involved in your care have access to your records, for example, doctors, nurses, counsellors, Chaplain, complementary therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, etc.

• We will also need to talk with other professionals outside the hospice who are also involved in your care. We will only provide them with information that they need to know in order to do their job. This may include your Consultant(s), General Practitioner, specialist nurses, district nurse and any other relevant professionals.

• If you give us any personal information about your family or anyone close to you, this may be documented. Please do not provide us with information about other people if you know they would not agree to it. Please tell other people if you have provided information about them to us.

• We usually keep details of your next of kin and/or nearest relatives or carers, so that we can offer them support in the future.

• Your records will be kept by the hospice for a period of time specified by Law. This will happen even when you are no longer a patient.

• Occasionally records may be inspected by statutory inspectors of our service or by our staff carrying out audits of care.

If you would like more information, please talk to member of staff.