Your data and personal information

Information (data) is vital to the health services we deliver, including immunisation.

Your data allows us to:

  • manage the way new coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations are provided
  • support clinical auditing, public health planning and public accountability
  • ensure information about previous vaccinations is available to clinical staff

You have rights relating to the access and use of your personal health information. NHS inform and NHS Scotland, along with the Scottish Government, have a duty to protect your data.

The information held in the national clinical data store forms part of the patient’s clinical record and is required by NHS Scotland to allow clinical audit, a quality improvement process, and ensure safe treatment.

Data protection and the NHS

The NHS holds a lot of information about you, including your:

  • name, address and other contact details
  • patient history
  • medications you may use now or have used in the past
  • illnesses and conditions you have and treatment you may need

We have to follow rules about sharing this information and ensure all data sharing is done legally and safely.

Read more about data protection when using the NHS

How your data is stored and used

Information about vaccination programmes has never been more important.

Health professionals need to know who has been given a vaccine and who hasn’t, the batch number, date it’s given and details of adverse reactions.

Scotland’s national clinical data store, maintained by NHS Education for Scotland, holds immunisation information for seasonal flu (influenza), pneumococcal, shingles and coronavirus vaccinations.

It’s information which, used properly, can save lives, improve treatments. The NHS has a duty to safeguard and protect it.

Find out more about the ways your immunisation data is used

Privacy, confidentiality and the NHS

The information you share is private and confidential and you have the right to tell NHS staff you don’t want it to be shared in a particular way or with specific people.

But this is not an absolute right. There are times when information should and must be shared, especially for the wider public good – such as during the coronavirus outbreak.

Read more about privacy and confidentiality when using the NHS

Last updated:
11 April 2022

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