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Confidentiality Policy

Sonria Dental Clinic is committed to protecting patient confidentiality and complying with relevant legislation and professional guidance, including the Data protection Act 2018, UK GDPR, Caldicott Principles and current GDC standards.

For the purpose of this policy, confidential information includes any information learned in a professional capacity about a patient. This may include personal details, medical history, treatment information and associated costs. Confidential information may be recorded or stored in different formats, including written records, images, videos, health records and electronic systems, or communicated verbally.

All team members are responsible for protecting patient confidentiality and keeping personal information secure. Staff receive appropriate training on confidentiality, data protection requirements and current GDC Standards to ensure these responsibilities are understood and followed

Personal information given or received in confidence will not be shared with anyone else without the patient’s prior consent, except where there is a lawful or professional reason to do so. Where consent is required, the patient will be informed about what information will be shared why it is being shared and likely consequences. The patient will have an opportunity to withhold consent, and their decision will be recorded in their clinical records.

• If a patient consents to their information being shared, we will ensure that recipients understand that the information is confidential. When information is shared with dental or medical professionals, we expect the same high standards of confidentiality to be maintained.

•  If a patient’s information or images are used for research or marketing, the team member will advise the patient how these will be used, check that the patient understands what they are agreeing to, obtain and record the patient’s consent to their use and only release the minimum information necessary for the purpose. The patient will be advised that they can withdraw permission at any time.

•  If it is not necessary for a patient to be identified, they will remain anonymous in any information released.

•  The duty to keep information confidential also covers originals and copies of a patient’s photographs, videos or audio recordings, including those made on a mobile phone. No images or recordings will be made without the patient’s permission.

•  Patient information is kept confidential even after death.

Before releasing information without the patient’s permission, an effort is always made to either convince the patient to release the information themselves or give the practice permission to do so, with the details of the discussion fully documented in the patient record. If obtaining consent from a patient is not practical or appropriate, or if the patient will not give their permission, the team member will obtain appropriate professional advice before releasing the information.

A patient’s information will only be released without their prior permission in the following exceptional circumstances:

•  It is in the best interests of the public or the patient and the information released could be important in preventing or detecting a serious crime.

•  If a team member has information that a patient could be at risk of significant harm or may be a victim of abuse, in which case the appropriate care agencies or the police will be informed.

•  If a team member is required to disclose information by a court or court order, in which case only the minimum amount of information necessary to comply will be released.

Sonria Dental Clinic treats breaches of confidentiality very seriously. No team member shall knowingly misuse any confidential information or allow others to do so. Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action.

This policy should be read in conjunction with the practice’s Privacy Notice, Data Protection and Information Security procedures, Safeguarding Policy, Social Media Policy and other relevant Information Governance procedures.

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