At Dorset Healthcare, we are committed to protecting your privacy, keeping your information safe, and working in partnership with patients, carers, and families.
We will always treat your personal information with care. We will only share it if you give permission or if there is a clear reason, such as keeping you or someone else safe.
Carers, families, and friends are often an important part of someone’s care. They help us understand your needs, support you at home, and notice changes in your wellbeing. We aim to work with carers where possible while respecting your wishes.
We will usually ask if you are happy for us to share information with your carer or family. You can say yes or no, and you can change your mind at any time.
Sometimes, a person may be too unwell to make decisions. We will assess whether they have capacity to make that decision. If not, we may share information if it is in their best interests.
We can listen to carers, take their concerns seriously, and share general information such as whether someone is safe and being supported. We can also offer general advice about conditions or treatments and provide guidance and support.
We cannot share detailed personal or medical information without permission unless there is a safety or legal reason.
There are times when we may need to share information without consent. This may be because there is a risk of harm, safeguarding concerns, or the person is unable to make decisions and sharing is in their best interests. We will always share only what is necessary and record why the decision was made.
We understand that this can be difficult for carers. Even if we cannot share full details, we will listen, be respectful, and offer reassurance where possible.
If someone does not give permission to share information, we will not share detailed information, but we will still listen and offer reassurance. If someone is very unwell, we may share information if it is in their best interests. In emergencies, we may share important information to protect safety. Carers can always share information with us and we will take concerns seriously.
Your information is kept safe and private. Carers are important and will be listened to. We aim to balance privacy, safety, and support, and we will explain our decisions where possible.
In some cases, people do not have mental capacity to make decisions about who they share information with. In these situations, if it is in the person’s best interest, we will sometimes share information without consent.
If you have any questions, please speak to a member of staff or visit Privacy notice : Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
The Caldicott Guardian principles, which underpin the safe and appropriate use of personal information, can be found at: The Caldicott Principles - GOV.UK
Opt out of sharing information
You have the right to opt out of sharing your information. If you wish to do so, please discuss this with your GP. This will not affect the care you receive; however, not sharing information may lead to delays, so it is important to seek advice from your GP in the first instance.
You can change your mind about your choice at any time.
On occasion we may use information for research or strategic planning, as a Trust that takes part in and runs research projects. We will not share your identifiable data unless you have explicitly given your consent and, wherever possible, will use pseudo-anonymised data (which means you will not be identifiable).
Most of the time, anonymised data is used for research and planning so that you cannot be identified, in which case your confidential patient information isn’t needed. You have a choice about whether you want your confidential patient information to be used in this way. If you are happy with this use of information you do not need to do anything. If you do choose to opt out, your confidential patient information will still be used to support your individual care.
How this works:
- Your medical history combined with identifiers: This includes data regarding your diagnoses, medications, and treatments alongside information that directly identifies you, such as your NHS number, date of birth, postcode, or gender.
- Strictly regulated access: This data is only accessible to approved researchers, universities, and NHS planning bodies under strict legal frameworks. It is never shared with insurance companies or used for marketing.
Our systems and processes are compliant with the national data opt-out, where you can apply your choice to any confidential patient information they use or share for purposes beyond your individual care. Our organisation is compliant with the National Data Opt-Out policy.
Who is a carer?
Carers are anyone who provides regular support for someone with a health problem who is a friend, relative, spouse or partner. This sort of carer is not someone who is employed by any agency.
“My son now lives independently. He has been treated in two different areas, these have been so different in the way they treat patients and their carers. One encourages carers to attend the ward rounds and all outpatients’ clinics along WITH the patient. All the staff are very friendly and forthcoming with any new information they have. The psychiatrist listens to both the carer and the patient and the CPNs have a friendly and very supportive manner. You feel that everyone is working together as a team including my son and ourselves. Unfortunately my son has had to receive treatment from another area now, one which cuts out the carer and doesn't let them know when appointments are made. This results in appointments being missed because he forgets and there’s another three to six months to wait for another one. I, his carer am not invited even when I have asked if I could be”.
If you support someone, help is available. You can ask for a Carer’s Assessment, speak to our teams for advice, and access local services across Dorset.
Listening to carers
National guidance recognises how important it is to involve carers. The Department of Health states:
"Confidentiality should not be used as a reason for not listening to carers, nor for failing to discuss fully with individuals the need for their family and friends to receive information so they can continue to support them."
The team and your allocated key worker who support you will work collaboratively with you and provide the right care at the right time for you. We will make sure everyone is working towards helping you achieve what matters most to you.
We will speak to you regularly about sharing your information with people who support you and with other services; and we will record your wishes.
We may share your information with these services:
- other NHS Trusts
- commissioning support groups
- your general practitioner
- ambulance services
- social services
- relevant support charities
- police/court officials
- voluntary care social enterprise organisations commissioned by the NHS, which could include Dorset Mental Health Forum, BCHA, The Lantern, Help & Care, Dorset Mind, Harmony and Access Wellbeing.
In our experience, most people living with or recovering from a mental health difficulty will benefit from support from their family and friends.
We will talk openly together to promote a partnership between you, your friends or
family and staff.
There will probably be some aspects of life, care and treatment that you are willing to share and others that you are not.
We will record our conversations with you in a care plan document called a My Wellbeing Plan.
The most recent version of your My Wellbeing Plan will be shared with you and where agreed, with the person who supports you. If you want to change what has been written in your My Wellbeing Plan please speak to a member of staff.
How we contact you
Everyone will automatically receive letters in the post from Dorset HealthCare.
We may contact you by phone, text or email with your consent. This may be about your care or your appointments.
You may opt in or out of text or email communication at any time.
To change your preferences, please get in touch with your team.
An advocate is someone who can support you in several different ways; for example, an advocate might help you access information you need, write letters on your behalf or go with you to meetings.
In Dorset the South West Advocacy Network SWAN offers several types of advocacy including safeguarding, mental health, continuing healthcare, carers and the Care Act.
The health complaints advocacy service in Dorset is provided by The Advocacy People.
A person keeps changing their mind about sharing information with you
We will look to understand why a person is refusing to share information with you. We will explain the benefits of having you involved in their care. We will review this with the person to see if they have changed their mind. Sometimes people are happy to share certain aspects of their care. It is our intention to keep families and carers informed of the situation. This will be done by someone from the clinical team providing care to the person, for example a key worker.
What happens with the information you share with us
Information you share with us is recorded in our electronic patient record.
Any information that is relevant to the care of the person will be discussed with the clinical team providing their care.
If you would like to see a copy of how the information you have shared with us has been recorded, speak to the care team. A senior manager will tell you if they can provide a copy of this information to you directly.
In some cases, particularly if this is about a large amount of information, you might need to make a subject access request. This is guided by the Data Protection Legislation. If that is the case, our staff member will tell you how to do this.