NHS 24 Explained

In certain cases, the law does allow us to pass on this information without your permission. These special cases are:

• When a call involves children under the age of 16, we will pass all contacts to their GP unless the call is from a child who explicitly refuses consent and can demonstrate an understanding of the implications of not passing on information.
• If you are an adult who cannot make decisions for yourself, or cannot tell others your decisions.

In these cases the law allows someone to see your records and discuss your care, if you have appointed them to act on your behalf as a power of attorney, or they have applied to a court and have been granted the power in a guardianship order.

In these special cases, that person may not receive any information that you have told NHS staff you don’t want them to have or if NHS staff feel it would be harmful to your health or the health of others.

Sometimes the law allows the NHS to share your personal health information without your permission, for example, to investigate a serious crime or to protect a child.

 

reviewed 11 January 2008