Your NHS Data Matters – Your Data, Your Choice

The NHS collects and uses information about patients to provide care, improve services, plan healthcare and support medical research.

You have a choice about whether your confidential patient information is used for research and planning. This is known as the National Data Opt-out.

If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used in this way, you do not need to do anything. You can change your choice at any time.

For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters.

National Data Opt-out

The National Data Opt-out allows you to choose whether your confidential patient information can be used for purposes beyond your individual care, such as research and planning NHS services.

If you choose to opt out, your confidential patient information will generally not be used for these purposes where the National Data Opt-out applies.

Your choice will not affect the care or treatment you receive.

The National Data Opt-out does not prevent your information from being used to provide you with direct care. There are also some circumstances where information may still be used, including where there is a legal requirement or another applicable exemption.

How to manage your National Data Opt-out

You can view, set or change your choice at any time by visiting:

www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/manage-your-choice

You can also manage your choice through the NHS App.

Please note: Your GP practice cannot record or change your National Data Opt-out on your behalf.

Type 1 Opt-out – Information held by your GP practice

A Type 1 opt-out is different from the National Data Opt-out.

A Type 1 opt-out prevents confidential patient information held in your GP record from being shared with NHS England for purposes other than your individual care, subject to applicable legal requirements and exceptions.

If you wish to register a Type 1 opt-out, you must inform your GP practice. You can do this by completing a Type 1 opt-out form and returning it to the practice.

Your GP practice will record your choice in your medical record.

A Type 1 opt-out does not affect the sharing of information needed for your individual care.

You can withdraw a Type 1 opt-out at any time by contacting your GP practice.

What happened to Type 2 opt-outs?

Type 2 opt-outs were replaced by the National Data Opt-out in October 2018.

Existing Type 2 opt-outs were automatically converted to National Data Opt-outs. Patients who previously registered a Type 2 opt-out do not need to register again.

New Type 2 opt-outs can no longer be recorded by GP practices.

How does the NHS use patient information?

Patient information is used for a range of purposes, including:

• Providing direct care: Helping healthcare professionals deliver safe and effective treatment.
• Planning NHS services: Understanding demand and identifying where services need improvement.
• Medical research: Supporting research into illnesses, treatments and patient outcomes.
• Improving patient safety: Identifying trends and helping improve the quality of healthcare.

Where possible, information used for research and planning is anonymised so that individual patients cannot be identified.

The National Data Opt-out applies to certain uses of confidential patient information where patients could be identified. It does not apply to information that has been properly anonymised.

Further information

You can find out more about how the NHS uses your information and the choices available to you through the following websites:

• Your NHS Data Matters – NHS
• Manage your National Data Opt-out – NHS
• Type 1 Opt-out information – NHS England

If you need help understanding your choices, please contact the practice for further guidance.