Patient confidentiality in NHS population screening programmes
Information about what personal information is used by the screening programmes and why. Includes your options, rights and how to find out more.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This publication explains how and why population screening programmes collect and process data. It covers:
*Why we use your personal information
*Who is responsible for your personal information
*What information is used to invite people for screening
*Your choices
*Keeping your personal information safe
*Using information to make sure screening is safe and works well
*Using information to learn and improve services
*Testing new computer systems
*Using your information for research
*National health registers
*How long information is kept
*The law and your personal information
*Your rights and getting help
Updates to this page
-
Updated guidance including: • Updated legal basis description • Improved description of invitations and call/recall • Inclusion of additional data types • Clearer articulation of data uses • General clarity and consistency improvements
-
Added clarification that publication was previously published by Public Health England.
-
Information updated throughout to reflect the move of responsibilities from Public Health England (PHE) to NHS England.
-
Updated privacy notice.
-
Added information about the screening helpdesk.
-
Added possibility of GPs sharing relevant information with screening services.
-
New and expanded information to reflect the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
-
Guidance updated for accuracy and clarity.
-
Added information about patient confidentiality processes in cancer screening.
-
First published.