National Data Opt-Out

National data opt-out

The national data opt-out is a service that allows patients to opt out of their confidential information being used for research and planning.

 

Introduced in May 2018, it has been made in response to the National Data Guardian’s Review of Data Security, Consent and Opt-Outs. 

 

 

How does it apply to the Trust?

Information is used by us to:

• improve the standards of care to our patients
• monitor our safety levels
• plan for existing and future services
• research projects and clinical trial

 

To use information, our organisation must have a legal basis to use it. 

 

Before any project, strategic planning or research is undertake our staff will need to ensure that the patients they wish to include have not opted out.  To do this, the Trust will make requests to NHS Spine to review the list patients we propose to include. We will then be notified of the patients we can include in a proposed project with those patients who have opted out removed.  This request will be made for every new project, planning or research project.

 

 

What information applies?

Your confidential information relates to two types of information the opt out applies to:

• information that can identify or could be used to identify you
• information about your health, care or treatment.
   

It does not apply where information is being used or shared for an individual’s health care.

 

If you have agreed to a specific use of data for a specific research project or clinical trial after being fully informed than the national opt out does not apply, even if you have registered a national opt out.

 

 

How can you opt out?

If you are happy with the way the NHS uses your data you will not need to do anything.

Patients are required to register their opt-out with NHS Digital using the following contact details:

Telephone: 0300 3035678

Via national data opt-out website.

Prior to any project, strategic planning or research being undertaken by the Trust we will check the NHS Spine to ensure we have removed those patients who have opted out of their information being used for purposes other than direct health care.
 

 

Further information

National data opt-out website