Health Information Access - Empowering Healthcare Choices

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Why is my health information held in our systems?

Some of your health information will be held in our systems to improve your care. For example: We provide services that help you manage your own health and care and make it easier to get the care you need. For example: We collect confidential patient information so that it can be used to improve everyone's health and care.

Why is health and care information important?

It’s very important that health and care staff looking after you have the information they need, when they need it, to make good decisions about your care, and keep you in the best possible health. This information is important to us as individuals – better use of health and care information gives us more control of our own health and care.

What information does a health record contain?

There is no one record that contains all the information about your health conditions and treatments. Information about patients who are being cared for, and the care they get, needs to be shared between these organisations.

What is health information?

Information is an ethereal commodity. One definition describes it as the data and knowledge that intelligent systems (human and artificial) use to support their decisions.

What Is Health Information Access

1. https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/inclusive-digital-healthcare-a-framework-for-nhs-action-on-digital-inclusion/
2. https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/report/2022-02-23/are-people-getting-their-right-accessible-information
3. https://digital.nhs.uk/your-data/understanding-data-in-health-and-care
4. https://library.hee.nhs.uk/patient-information/health-literacy-and-patient-information
5. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/nhs-app-help-and-support/health-records-in-the-nhs-app/personal-health-records/
6. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/accessing-health-records/
7. https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/feature-stories/item/the-critical-role-of-accessibility-in-health-information
8. https://www.bmj.com/content/331/7516/566

Health Information Access Information

1. https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/individual-rights/right-of-access/health-data/
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/data-saves-lives-reshaping-health-and-social-care-with-data/data-saves-lives-reshaping-health-and-social-care-with-data