Consent for Sharing Your Information

We will always ask for your permission before sharing your information in the following situations:

• Referring you to another healthcare service: if we need to share your details with a hospital, specialist, or another NHS service to support your care.
• Sharing with a family member or carer: if you would like a relative, close friend, or carer to be involved in your care, we need your consent before discussing your health information with them.
• Providing information to external organisations: sometimes, organisations such as social services or charities may be involved in supporting your care. We will always seek your consent before sharing information with them.
• Participating in research or surveys: if you are invited to take part in a study or a patient experience survey, we will ask for your consent before sharing any details.

Consent can be given in different ways, depending on the situation:

• Explicit Consent: this is when you give clear and direct permission for your information to be shared. It can be written, verbal, or digital, such as signing a form or verbally agreeing to share your details.
• Implied Consent: in some cases, your actions may indicate consent. For example, if you agree to be referred to a specialist, it may be understood that your information will need to be shared with them.
• Informed Consent: before you provide consent, we will ensure you fully understand what information will be shared, with whom, and why. We will answer any questions you have to help you make an informed decision.

We will always explain why we need to share your information and ask for your consent in a clear and simple way. We may do this using the following methods:

• Written Consent: in some cases, we may ask you to sign a consent form. This is usually required for more formal situations, such as referrals to other services or research participation.
• Verbal Consent: for everyday situations, such as sharing information with a family member, we may ask for your verbal consent. This will be recorded in your health records.
• Digital Consent: in certain cases, we may ask for your consent through an online form or a secure patient portal.

Yes, you have the right to change your mind at any time. If you decide you no longer want us to share your information, please let us know, and we will update our records accordingly. However, if we have already shared information, we may not be able to retrieve it.

Rights and Choices

Under the common law duty of confidentiality, you have the right to understand how your information is used and to make choices about data sharing. Any disclosure without consent must be justified in law or in the public interest.

In some circumstances, we may need to share information without your consent. This includes situations where:

• There is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else.
• It is required by law, such as for safeguarding concerns or criminal investigations.
• A court order instructs us to share the information.

In these cases, we will always follow legal guidelines and ensure that only necessary information is shared.

If you have any questions about how we use and share your information, or if you would like to update your consent preferences, please contact the Trust’s Data Protection Officer: bchc.dpo@nhs.net.

We are committed to keeping your information safe and ensuring you have control over how it is used.