Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act
The difference between the two Acts is that if you wish to obtain information about yourself then the Data Protection Act 1998 will apply and you should make an Access Request. If the information that you are looking for is in relation to a public authority, the the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2000 will apply.
Occasionally we have to share your medical information with other NHS or Private (e.g. Bupa) health providers such as hospitals when we refer you for further care by a Consultant or other Health Professional. We do not disclose your medical information to other third parties such as insurance companies or solicitors without your written consent.
Data Protection Act
You have the right to expect that information about you will be held in confidence. You also have the right to have access to the medical records held about you.
Access to Medical Records
Please telephone the surgery to book an appointment with the Practice Manager to obtain access to your medical records.
Freedom of Information Act
FOI is all about the right of access to information held by public authorities. It came into force in full on 1 January 2005.
The FOI Act gives two related rights:
- The right to be told whether the information exists
- The right to receive the information
The Act places a duty on public authorities such as the Fairwater Health Centre to adopt and maintain publication schemes which must be approved by the Information Commissioner.
Requesting Information
Requests for information must be made in writing, which includes email. The request must state the name and address of the person applying for the information and must clearly state the information required.
The Fairwater Health Centre has 20 working days in which to respond to the request.
Charges
There is no charge for the Publication Scheme itself but the Fairwater Health Centre is allowed to charge a fee for responding to your request for information within the FOI Act depending on the class of request. If there is a charge this will be shown as a £ sign in the publication scheme. The 20 days for responding to requests is put on hold until the fee is paid. If the fee is not paid within 3 months it is assumed the applicant no longer wants the information.