Personal information
We are St Luke’s Hospice, a voluntary sector care provider who provides Palliative and End of Life Care services for those patients who will no longer benefit from proactive treatment for their condition and for their carers and relatives. We provide inpatient services, community services, ambulatory care services in our Woodgrange Centre, patient and family support services and bereavement services.
St Luke’s manages patient information in accordance with existing laws (eg the Data Protection Act 1998) and with guidance from organisations that govern the provision of healthcare in England such as the Department of Health and the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) who is responsible for enforcement of the Data Protection Act.
Our pledge to you regarding storing and sharing your information
Your information
- In order for the Hospice to provide you with the highest possible standard of care, we require up-to-date and accurate information about you and your family or carers.
- The ways in which we use your information are governed by law. The principal legislation that applies is the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force on 25 May 2018 and has been incorporated into the Data Protection Act 2018. We are required to identify the legal basis under GDPR for processing your information.
- All this information will ensure that the care we provide will meet your needs, both in the Hospice environment and home care.
- You can help by giving us details about yourself that will help with ensuring your care is appropriate for you and then letting us know of any changes in your circumstances, or family circumstances, or if we have any incorrect details.
How we might use your information
- We will receive a lot of personal information about you in the course of your time with the Hospice.
- We will use this information to provide you with the most appropriate treatment and good quality care that meets your personal needs.
- Your information may also be used to teach and train staff and for statistical purposes.
- If we do use your information in this way any personal identifying information will be redacted.
Sharing your information
- This information will only be shared on a ‘need to know’ basis and the Hospice has policies to ensure that all staff follow strict rules and abide by the Data Protection Act 2018 and Confidentiality Agreement.
- In the course of your care, we may need to share some information about your illness and treatment with colleagues in the Hospice and those in other teams and organisations such as your General Practitioner and District Nurse, the London Ambulance Service and Social Services.
- In some situations you may be required to sign a specific document agreeing that information can be shared and accessed from particular agencies.
- We will also share some details about you and the contact details you give us for family and carers with our bereavement service so they can offer support to those who matter to you.
- We will keep you informed about what is going in at the Hospice by sending you the St Luke’s newsletter, Insight, and an invitation to our annual Light Up a Life event.
How we will keep your records safe
- Everyone working for the Hospice has a legal duty to keep your information safe and confidential.
- The Contract of Employment for all staff and the Confidentiality Agreement signed by all Hospice volunteers requires that they comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 and all the policies covering information security and governance.
- Your information will either be stored securely using our patient management system or locked away with access only given to those who require it.
- There is a requirement for the Hospice to keep your data for certain periods of time (dependent on what the data is) more information can be found here.
Your information rights
You have the right to:
- Know how we will use your personal information
- Access your medical records following a written request
- Object to us using your information
- Ask us to change or restrict the way in which we use your information
- Include any corrections you want to make in your record.
- Under The Access to Health Records Act 1990 a representative of yours has the right to access your health records should you pass away.
Who do I contact if I would like to know more or have concerns?
If you would like to know more about how we use your information or if you have concerns about it please speak with one of your Hospice nurses or doctors or contact the St Luke’s Hospice Information Governance Team.
