Data Share Programme

An initiative by NHS England was launched in 2014 to link and access information held on patients relating to their NHS care to enable them to better plan for and improve services for all.

Information such as your postcode and NHS number, but not your name, will be used to link your records in a secure system, so your identity is protected. How your information is used and shared is controlled by law and strict rules are in place to protect your privacy.

The information, which does not reveal patient identity, will be used by NHS England to find more effective ways of preventing, treating and managing illnesses, guide local decisions about changes needed to respond to needs of local patients, support public health initiatives and guide decisions about how to manage NHS resources fairly.

Only the minimum amount of information needed will be used and will always be in line with the law, national guidance and best practice. Any reports produced will never identify a particular person.

data sharing programme

You have a right to prevent confidential information about you from being shared or used for any purpose other than providing your care, except in special circumstances. 

More information is available, including a list of frequently asked questions, on the NHS website www.nhs.uk/caredata. You can also get further information from the website www.hscic.gov.uk. 

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