You have the right to confidentiality under the Data Protection Act 1998, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the common law duty of confidence (the Disability Discrimination and the Race Relations Acts may also apply).
We also comply with the NHS Code of Practice on Confidentiality and pharmacists have a requirement under their professional Code of Ethics to keep records about you confidential, secure and accurate. All of our staff contracts of employment contain a requirement to keep patient information confidential.
- You ask us to do so;
- We ask and you give us specific permission;
- We are required by law, for example prescribers must be notified where a patient presents a repeat prescription and the pharmacist becomes aware of clinically significant issues arising in connection with that prescription;
- We are permitted by law, for example where public interest overrides the need to keep the information confidential.
The types of people we may ask you for permission to share information with include your doctors (GP and hospital) and other health professionals such as nurses. Anyone who receives information from us also has a legal duty to keep this information confidential, subject to recognised exceptions of the types listed above.