General Practice Data for Planning and Research
NHS Digital recently announced some changes to the way they collect data from GP surgeries to help them plan services, research potential new treatments and improve outcomes for patients.
Data from GP surgeries is already collected to help ensure the treatment you receive is safe and effective, as well as helping the NHS to improve health and care services for everyone by:
- Monitoring the long-term safety and effectiveness of care
- Planning how to deliver better health and care services
- Preventing the spread of infectious diseases
- Identifying new treatment and medicines through health research.
Data from GP surgeries is already shared for these purposes (where a patient hasn’t opted out). Now, NHS Digital has developed a new way to collect this data, called the General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection. It is hoped that the new approach to data collection will be more efficient and effective.
Any data about you will NOT include your name or where you live, while other data that could identify you will be replaced by unique codes.
As we have seen consistently throughout the pandemic, planning and research is integral to the long-term success of the whole of the NHS. Research using patient information enabled clinical trials in the UK of treatment for Covid-19 as well as vaccines, saving an incalculable number of lives in this country and around the world.
Contributing to research projects will benefit us all as better and safer treatments are introduced more quickly and effectively without compromising your privacy and confidentiality.
The potential benefits of researchers having access to population-wide health data include:
- Better prevention of a range of conditions
- Better patient care
- New drugs for health conditions
- Better diagnostics
- Faster clinical trials
- Better treatments – such as surgery or different therapies
- New artificial intelligence solutions to accelerate understanding of diseases
Click links to see more information about the General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection:
- What patient data is collected
- Legal basis for data collection
- Who NHS Digital share your information with
To help you make an informed decision we strongly advise you to read the information available on:
If you don’t want your identifiable patient data to be shared for purposes except for your own care, you can opt-out by registering a Type 1 Opt-out or a National Data Opt-out, or both. These opt-outs are different and they are explained in more detail below. Your individual care will not be affected if you opt-out using either option.
Type 1 Opt-out (opting out of NHS Digital collecting your data)
Data will not be collected from GP practices about patients who have registered a Type 1 Opt-out with their practice. More information about Type 1 Opt-outs is in NHS Digital’s GP Data for Planning and Research Transparency Notice, including a form that you can complete and send to your GP practice or download it from here: Type+1+Opt-out+form
This collection will start on 1 September 2021 so if you do not want your data to be shared with NHS Digital please register your Type 1 Opt-out with us well in time for this.
If you register a Type 1 Opt-out after this collection has started, no more of your data will be shared with NHS digital. They will however still hold the patient data which was shared with before you registered the Type 1 Opt-out.
If you do not want NHS Digital to share your identifiable patient data with anyone else for purposes beyond your own care, then you can also register a National Data Opt-out.
National Data Opt-out (opting out of NHS Digital sharing your data)
We will collect data from GP medical records about patients who have registered a National Data Opt-out. The National Data Opt-out applies to identifiable patient data about your health, which is called confidential patient information.
NHS Digital won’t share any confidential patient information about you – this includes GP data, or other data we hold, such as hospital data – with other organisations, unless there is an exemption to this.
To find out more information and how to register a National Data Opt-Out, please read our GP Data for Planning and Research Transparency Notice.
Latest changes in our services (updated 19/07/2021)
- We are running a clinical telephone triage service to reduce the risk to patients & staff. That means a GP will call you to deal with you query over the phone first and only invite you for a face to face appointment if they think it is necessary. Reception staff will ask you for a nature of your illness before booking an appointment.
- When attending the premises, please ring the entry phone located on the right hand side of the lobby door and our staff will attend you accordingly. Patients who are refusing to wear a face mask will not be permitted to enter. We will also check your temperature using a contactless thermometer.
- Do not arrive early for your appointment as we have to maintain social distancing in the reception area and therefore have limited spaces available.
- Only one parent/carer is permitted at the surgery with their dependent during the appointment.
- If you need to request your repeat medication please use your patient online access or pharmacy to order on you behalf as usual.
- For medical certification from absence of work related to the Covid-19 pandemic – please read this document and provide to your employer as we will not be able to provide these: Medical certificate requests
- To get an isolation note please use: https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/
- Nurses continue to provide necessary care like: wound care, stitches removal, baby immunizations, contraceptive / depot injections, smear tests and diabetic reviews, asthma & COPD reviews, ear syringe.
- The Youth Clinic is managed via the telephone.
- Your telephone triage appointment can be booked on the phone or online via the Patient Online Access. Patients can still use E-consultations via our website.
- If you are concerned over the coronavirus please look at NHS official guidance which is updated regularly this also includes information on getting a test: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
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From 17 May 2021, people in England who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel.
A full course is currently two doses of any approved vaccine. Vaccine status will be available from:
– NHS app which you can download from app stores
– NHS website (from 17 May 2021)
It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified so you can use these services.
If you cannot access these online services, and you have had 2 vaccines, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119. Only call 119 if you had your second dose more than 5 working days ago. It may take 7 working days for the letter to arrive.
The practice is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status.
When you’re planning your travel, check the latest information on demonstrating your COVID-19 status when travelling abroad on the gov.uk website. Make sure there is time to get proof of your vaccination status before you leave. Make sure there is time to get proof of your vaccination status before you leave.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination
To ensure the best possible protection against the current widely circulating COVID variant we need people to be double vaccinated. You are eligible for your 2nd dose 8 weeks after your 1st dose.
You can use the link below to book a vaccine via national booking service if you are eligible (please check updated eligibility criteria first):
The BBC Asian Network has created some great content on vaccines scams and made it available on social media; containing videos in Urdu, Sylheti, Punjabi, Tamil and Gujarati please click to access these: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56018508
Advice to help protect your home from COVID19 can be found here: http://www.germdefence.org
Please see attached Lambeth’s leaflet with useful information and services contact that support Lambeth residents during Covid-
19. Click here for a leaflet:
Lambeth_Here-for-you-help-and-support-leaflet
Lambeth Coronavirus Support and Helpline
A helpline is available for people in Lambeth who are having difficulties due to coronavirus. You or someone acting on your behalf can call the helpline to get advice on issues you are having, including access to medicines and food. The call handler will help you to connect with the right department in the council or to other organisations, such as Age UK,
who can help you get support.
Opening times: every day between 8am and 8pm
T: 020 7926 2999
W: lambeth.gov.uk/coronavirus-helpline for support online.
