Public health encompasses everything from national smoking and alcohol policies, the management of epidemics such as flu, the control of large scale infections such as TB and Hepatitis B to local outbreaks of food poisoning or Measles. Certain illnesses are also notifiable; the doctors treating the patient are required by law to inform the Public Health Authorities, for instance Scarlet Fever.

 

This will necessarily mean the subjects personal and health information being shared with the Public Health organisations.

Some of the relevant legislation includes: The Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002.

Data Controller contact details

Mersham Medical Centre,
30 Norbury Road, Thornton Heath Surrey CR7 8JN
020 8653 1869
Dr Nana Oppong

Data Protection Officer contact details

GP Practices are not yet in a position to designate a DPO, further advice will follow

Purpose of the processing

There are occasions when medical data needs to be shared with Public Health England, the Local Authority Director of Public Health, or the Health Protection Agency, either under a legal obligation or for reasons of public interest or their equivalents in the devolved nations.

Lawful basis for processing

The legal basis will be

Article 6(1)(c) “processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.”

And

Article 9(2)(i) “processing is necessary for reasons of public interest in the area of public health, such as protecting against serious cross-border threats to health or ensuring high standards of quality and safety of health care and of medicinal products or medical devices…”

Recipient or categories of recipients of the shared data

The data will be shared with Public Health England www.gov.uk and equivalents in the devolved nations.

Rights to object

You have the right to object to some or all of the information being shared with NHS Digital. Contact the Data Controller or the practice.

Right to access and correct

You have the right to access the data that is being shared and have any inaccuracies corrected. There is no right to have accurate medical records deleted except when ordered by a court of Law.

Retention period

The data will be retained for active use during the period of the public interest and according to legal requirements and Public Health England’s criteria on storing identifiable data www.gov.uk.

Right to Complain

You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, you can use this link ico.org.uk/global/contact-us

or calling their helpline Tel: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745 (national rate)
There are National Offices for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, (see ICO website)