Privacy Notice and Opt-out

The NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria is transforming research to ensure local people receive the best possible health and care services.

The Lancashire and South Cumbria Secure Data Environment (SDE) is a cutting-edge platform that securely stores and integrates health and care data from GP practices, hospitals, community and mental health services, and social care.

This powerful resource will be used by health, care, and research professionals to plan services, drive innovation, and conduct life-changing research.

By harnessing our health data effectively, the Lancashire and South Cumbria SDE will enhance patient care, accelerate diagnoses, and fast-track the development of new treatments—because data-driven healthcare isn’t just the future, it’s the key to saving lives today.

Patient data is already used in research, but Secure Data Environments will standardise this process to make it more efficient and improve data security.

The Lancashire and South Cumbria SDE brings together information from several important areas of health and care within Lancashire and South Cumbria, including:

GP practices
Social care
Community services
Hospital services
Mental health services
Ambulance services.

You can decide how your data is shared.

You can allow your data to be used for all, some or no research and planning purposes. Below are the different options available to you.

You are happy for your data to be used for care, research and planning.
You do not need to do anything if you want your health and care information to support research and planning through the Lancashire and South Cumbria SDE.
You don’t want your data to be used for research and planning in Lancashire and South Cumbria, but you’re happy for it to be used nationally.
If you do not want your data to be used for local research projects, you can use the local data opt-out service by calling 01253953057.

You want to stop your GP practice sharing your data for research and planning, but you’re happy for hospitals and other providers to do this.
If you do not want personal, confidential data held by your GP practice to be used for purposes beyond your care, you can register a ‘Type 1 opt-out’. To do this you can download a Type 1 opt-out form and return it to your GP practice. This would not apply to hospitals and other healthcare providers that could still use your information for research and planning. You can find out more on the NHS England website.
You don’t want your data to be used for any research and planning.
If you want to stop your data being used for research and planning purposes, you can use the national data opt-out service. This opt-out can be viewed or changed at any time on the NHS England website.
You don’t want your data to be shared for care, research and planning.
If you do not want your data being shared at all, you can raise a General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – Right to Object with your GP practice. You have a right to object at any time, but please think carefully before doing this. This option would stop healthcare professionals viewing your records from other services. This could delay vital information being available if you need health or social care support – for example, during a visit to an Emergency Department. Your data would still be recorded by services as part of your direct care. Your GP practice has the right not to action your request should they feel it is not in your best interest.

Read about your opt-out options in our leaflet below.

How We Use Your Data in Lancashire and South Cumbria (1)Download

Opt-out Infographic

	Example	GP shares a summary care record with the hospital	Hospitals shares data with you GP for direct care purposes	NHS managers can use the data to support planning of services.	Public health experts can use the data do do population health research	Research can access de-identified health data for discovery	How to Opt-out
Allowing data access	You are happy for doctors, researchers and service planners to access information to support the healthcare system and research. As well as your individual care.						No action required. To opt back in click here
Summary Care Record (SCR) opt-out	You attend the Emergency Department but are not happy with your GP sharing things like diagnoses and medication with the hospital.						Submit a form at your GP practice
National Opt-out TYPE 1: GP data TYPE 2: All hospital and GP data	Your GP data will only be used for your individual care. Not for planning or research OR All your NHS data will only be used for individual care. Not for planning or research.						Contact your local GP Click here
Local Opt-out	You do not want your local health system or hospital using your health data for research or planning. Though still support use of your health data for national research and planning						Contact helpline: 01253 953057

Please note that you can activate more type of opt-out depending on your preferences. National opt-out affects both national and local research and planning.