Using your data in our research

Using your data

Protecting your information

Our research is only possible because of the patients, families and carers who agree to use their data as part of our research. At every stage of our research, we are committed to protecting your privacy, confidentiality and dignity. That includes using your data responsibly.

Our researchers are specially trained, qualified and authorised to work with your data. We handle and store data in the most secure ways possible. We will only use your data with the proper approvals, following independent review of how we plan to use the data for research and with full security of your data in place. We will only use your data to improve health and care.

The video above summarises how the NHS uses data to save lives and improve treatment and care; we are grateful to the Understanding Patient Data initiative for these resources. You will find more information and resources on the Understanding Patient Data website.

Our commitment to you

At NUH we make the following commitments about the data we keep about you and the way that we protect it. We will:

  • Keep the right information to provide services and fulfil our legal responsibilities to you
  • Keep your records safe, secure and accurate
  • Only keep your information as long as necessary
  • Collect, store and use the information you provide to the data protection standards and the laws that govern data protection
  • Comply with the NUH Privacy Policy and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which requires that the way we manage your personal data is fair, lawful and transparent.

Sharing data for research

By bringing together small amounts of data from many thousands of patients, health researchers and scientists can look for patterns across the population. This type of data analysis can be used to help:

  • understand more about disease risks and causes
  • improve diagnosis
  • develop new treatments and prevent disease
  • plan NHS services
  • improve patient safety

How the NHS uses data for research in the UK

The Health Research Authority (HRA) is the national body which protects and promotes the interests of patients and the public in health and social care research. It provides information about how data is used for research in the UK. You can find details of this information on the HRA website.

Choose how your data is used

You can choose if your health data is used for clinical research or for NHS and social care planning. Find out about how health data is used nationally and about your choices on the NHS website.

Data Opt Out

You can choose how your data is used by the NHS for planning and clinical research.

Find out more about the Data Opt Out on the NHS Digital website.

Our partners

We are working with our partners in the University of Nottingham to develop the skills and capabilities to analyse extremely large amounts of data for research.

We are also working nationally as part of information collaborations and new developments in research data to improve healthcare across the country.