What are the issues about patient consent to assessors seeing their records – some doctors are advising patients not to give consent because of confidentiality issues?
Assessors’ access to patient records is covered by a Department of Health directive applying to QOF and nGMS generally. Data shown to the assessor should be anonymised where possible. Patient consent must be sought before identifiable patient records are accessed unless there are good (and documented) reasons why not. It is advisable to ask all patients having appointments or home visits in a set month before the assessment visit for their consent for their records to be accessed; additionally, practices can put a notice in the waiting room well in advance of the assessment visit so that patients have the opportunity to refuse in time. This is a practice responsibility as custodians of the patient record. The assessors will only view the records of those patients who have given consent.
Related Questions
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