Skip to content
Translate the site
Exit website

Privacy policy

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires that data controllers provide certain information to people whose information (personal data) they hold and use. A privacy notice is one way of providing this information. This is sometimes referred to as a fair processing notice.

The personal information we process about you will depend on who you are and what relationship you have with the Trust. Please see the further information below to understand how we protect, use and, where required, share your data.

The Trust also carries out medical research, if you are a research participant you should have received a participant information leaflet advising how your data will be processed in relation to the specific research project.

If you have any queries about the way your personal data has been processed please contact the Royal Devon Data Protection Officer.

Data Protection Officer – Rhiannon Platt

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Information Governance Office
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford)
Barrack Road,
Exeter,
EX2 5DW

Email: rduh.dpo@nhs.net

For more information on the confidentiality statement for Devon Sexual Health sexual health clinics, click here.

To view the Royal Devon confidentiality and data protection information, click here.

Across Devon, DSH provide an integrated Sexual Health, HIV and Termination of Pregnancy Service, holding one clinical record for Sexual Health, HIV and termination information. This information is held in our dedicated sexual health electronic patient record system – Inform.

DSH services are confidential – even for those under 16 years old. No one can access DSH patient records apart from staff working in our clinics.

All tests are sent away under a clinic number and patient’s date of birth, so no-one outside of the DSH service will know about tests performed or test results – this includes GPs, hospital clinics, school nurses, etc.

DSH do not routinely share information about clinic attendances with anyone else unless servce users want us to. It can be helpful sometimes for us to work with GPs and other services and let them know about care we have given or treatments we have supplied – but we will not do this without checking with the service user first.

If DSH has concerns about a person’s safety, they may need to share this information with another professional. However, they would try to let the person know that they were going to do this, as long as it is safe for us them do so.

DSH takes confidentiality very seriously and all staff are trained in managing sensitive situations and receive comprehensive data protection training.

Devon Sexual Health is registered with the Information Commissioner Office [ICO] to process personal and special category data under the Data Protection Act 2018 under its two controller organisations. Our ICO registration details are available on the following weblinks:

DSH may collect personal information about Sexual Health, HIV, and termination of pregnancy to provide service users with appropriate care, testing and treatment. The information they collect will depend on which services are being accessed.

DSH may also use your information to notify sexual partners of people who have been diagnosed with HIV or Sexually transmitted infections to support our public health obligations.

How does DSH collect your personal information?

DSH collects personal information from several sources:

  • Directly from service users
  • Sexual partners that may have given details.
  • External provider partners that may have given details, such as GPs, community nurses, social workers etc.

What information might DSH collect?

DSH collects different information depending on the service being provided. Most services will collect the following information:

  • Basic information, such as name, address, date of birth, NHS number and next of kin details.
  • Contacts we have had with service users, such as appointments or testing.
  • Notes and reports about health and any treatment and care needed.
  • Details and records about the treatment and care received.
  • Relevant information from other healthcare professionals

DSH may also process special categories of information that may include:

  • Nationality, racial and/or ethnic origin
  • Religious or philosophical beliefs
  • Health information: e.g. results of laboratory tests.
  • Notes and reports about your health, treatment, and care.
  • Sex life or sexual orientation

DSH may also ask for information about recent sexual contacts and may reach out to these contacts on service user’s behalf. DSH will not disclose your identity to the contact.

Royal Devon Data Protection Officer – Rhiannon Platt

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Information Governance Office
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford)
Barrack Road,
Exeter,
EX2 5DW

Email: rduh.dpo@nhs.net

Devon Sexual Health is registered with the Information Commissioner Office [ICO] to process personal and special category data under the Data Protection Act 2018 under its two controller organisations. Our ICO registration details are available on the following weblinks:

Emergency

If your local GP or sexual health clinic is closed or you need to access help or medication over a weekend, emergency information is available here:

Emergency Contraception HIV PEP SEXUAL ASSAULT ABORTION