By you

As now, you will have the right to see your electronic healthcare records.

You need to apply directly to the NHS organisations where you have received treatment. You may have to pay a small charge.

If you decide to have a Summary Care Record, this means that when you use HealthSpace you will be able to see the information the NHS holds about you in your Summary Care Record, including any:

• medicines you are taking
• allergies you suffer from
• bad reactions to medicines you have had.

You must register to use HealthSpace to keep it as secure as possible. More information about HealthSpace is available at http://www.healthspace.nhs.uk/ or from your local NHS.

By NHS healthcare staff

By law, everyone working for us or on our behalf must respect your confidentiality and keep all information about you secure.

When records can be shared more easily, they need to be protected better. There are many different computer systems in different NHS organisations; over time these will work to similar standards of security. People who can see your records:

• need to be involved with your care;
• need to have an NHS Smartcard with a chip and passcode (like a bank card and PIN);
• should only look at the information they need to do their job; and
• should have their details recorded – who they are and if they have added or changed information.

These measures mean that your information is stored safely, stays private and can only be looked at by those healthcare staff supporting or providing your care.

No matter how careful we are, there are always risks when information is held on computers as there are with paper records. In every place we treat you there are people responsible for protecting your confidentiality. Ask your local NHS for more information.