How we collect, record and store information
When you register with Bradford District and Craven Talking Therapies service, we will create a clinical record containing details such as your name, date of birth, address and contact details. We cross-reference information, such as your unique NHS number, using the NHS Spine, to ensure that the information we gather, and store is accurate. Our records are stored securely on our patient electronic database (PCMIS). Access to records is limited to professionals who are involved in your care. Patient information can only be accessed for an appropriate reason(s), such as direct involvement in your care or for the purpose of making decisions around your care. All staff are required to adhere to a confidentiality agreement as part of their employment contract. We may also conduct an initial assessment with you prior to your treatment commencing. This assessment gathers further information about your health and wellbeing, so that we can use this information to build a safe and effective treatment plan for you. As a health care provider, we record this information, on the basis that it is our public task to keep records of the healthcare we provide. All information collected, together with your details of care, are placed on a file for our clinicians to view every time they provide treatment to you. We would always want you to be happy with your treatment plan, if you have any questions or concerns, please discuss these with your clinician.
How we share your information
We share information that does not identify you (anonymised) with other NHS agencies to help us to improve local services and for research, audit and public health reasons. Everyone working for health services has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential, as a requirement of General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Staff are also contractually bound to maintain confidentiality. As an NHS service, we work to ensure that (i) you receive the best possible care from us, (ii) we can work safely and effectively with everyone involved and (iii) our health professionals have a good basis to make health decisions about you.
If we felt that you would benefit from the support of another service, we would discuss this with you and only refer to another service, on your behalf, with your consent. We will only consider sharing your personal information, or details regarding your care/treatment, with other organisations, where we consider that it is an important part of delivering effective care. For example, we may wish to share information with your General Practitioner (GP) or other involved health care professional(s), as they are responsible for your ongoing care and for prescribing any medication that might help you. Please note this is routine practice to ensure safe delivery of psychological treatments. Sharing relevant and appropriate information is good practice and is essential for effective care.
In certain circumstances, we are duty-bound to inform another professional of information that has been shared with us. Wherever possible, we would discuss any concerns and actions with you before informing anyone else. We will always do our best to notify you of the sharing of information and we will only share the minimum information required for the purpose. Examples where we would be required to contact other professionals include (i) if we believe there is imminent risk of harm to yourself or to someone else, (ii) if we are concerned about your safety or that of someone else, (iii) if any child protection concerns are raised and/or (iv) if any involvement in criminal activity has been disclosed. We can share your information, without consent, when there is a legal basis to do so. This includes sharing information for the prevention of harm to yourself or others and/or the investigation and detection of serious crime. In limited circumstances, information may be shared with the police and other law enforcement agencies where there is a need to protect the public safety of you or others. For example, there is a legitimate enquiry to trace a missing person or prosecute or apprehend a person for a serious crime, there is a safeguarding matter involving a vulnerable child or adult or we have a received a Court Order requesting information about you.
Information Governance and Management
Bradford District Care Foundation Trust has a Data Protection Officer who is there to answer any concerns that you might have around how your information being used or stored. If you have any questions, please email Gaynor Toczek dpo@bdct.nhs.uk or, alternatively, you can write to:
The Information Governance and Records Management team
New Mill
Victoria Road
Saltaire
West Yorkshire
BD18 3LD
If you would like to receive a copy of any of your record or stored information, please email dpa.requests@bdct.nhs.uk or write to the team at the address above.
If you decide that you no longer wish to receive our support you can contact the admin team by calling 01274 221 234, emailing talkingtherapiesadmin@bdct.nhs.uk or write to:
Bradford District and Craven Talking Therapies
Level 5 – New Mill
Victoria Road
Saltaire
BD18 3LD
If, for any reason, you are unhappy with our response, you can contact the Information Commissioners Office for further guidance. Call the helpline on 0303 123 1113 (local rate number), see the ICO website or write to:
The Information Commissioners Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AE