NHS Digital – Research to improve everyone’s Health and Care

 NHS Digital – part of the NHS – collects, analyses, publishes and shares data to improve everyone’s health and care.

Orchard House Surgery as well as all GP practices will not share a patients name or where a patient lives. Any other data that could directly identify a patient, for example an NHS number, full postcode and date of birth, is replaced with unique codes which are produced by de-identification software before the data is shared with NHS Digital.

We only provide structured and coded data from the patient record such as appointments, referrals and medication. We do not share communication letters or any information discussed in the GP/patient consultations.

This webpage contains all the information about the process and a very useful YouTube video to explain the purpose of collection and how it can help GP practices and the NHS to plan future health and care.

What is shared:

  • data on sex, ethnicity and sexual orientation
  • clinical codes and data about diagnoses, symptoms, observations, test results, medications, allergies, immunisations, referrals, recalls and appointments, including information about your physical, mental and sexual health
  • data about staff who have treated you

What is not shared:

  • your name and address (except your postcode in unique coded form)
  • written notes (free text), such as the details of conversations with doctors and nurses
  • images, letters and documents
  • coded data that is not needed due to its age – for example medication, referral and appointment data that is over 10 years old
  • coded data that we are not permitted to share by law – for example certain codes about IVF treatment, and certain information about gender reassignment

OPT OUT

If you would prefer we didn’t share your information please complete this Opt-out form and return to us.