General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018
Maintaining the right of confidentiality is important for all Health and Social Care organisations. If you want to ask us for information that we may hold about you personally, this will be dealt with under the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
This would include information relating to health and social care records, employment and training records – anything that is limited to you as a person, whether for example as a patient, client, employee or partner of any kind.
If you need further details on how we use your information, please download our booklet:
Freedom of Information Act 2000
If the information you want is not about you personally, it will be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act. Read more about freedom of information.
Making a request for personal information
Please submit your request in writing to the relevant department.
For medical records involving the following hospitals – Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast City Hospital, Musgrave Park Hospital, Mater Hospital, Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital, The Children’s Hospital, and the School Of Dentistry, please contact:
Medical Records Department
The Royal Hospitals
274 Grosvenor Road
Belfast
BT12 6BA
Tel: 028 9504 0726
For Knockbracken Hospital, Muckamore Abbey Hospital, community Health and Social Care records (such as social work records) and all other requests for personal information, please contact:
Data Protection Officer
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
1st Floor, Administration Building
Knockbracken Healthcare Park
Saintfield Road
Belfast
BT8 8BH
Tel: 028 9504 6955
Or download the subject access application form.
In all cases, please state clearly what information you want and include your contact details so we can reply to you. You should also send a copy of photographic ID, for example your driving licence or passport.
Responding to requests
When we receive your request, we may contact you to clarify what information you require and inform you of any charges there may be for supplying it. In most cases, the information will be provided free of charge.
When we have received all the necessary documentation and fees, we have 30 days under GDPR to provide the information requested. If the request is complex, we may have a further 60 days if necessary to respond. We will advise you if this is the case.
If information is withheld, we will tell you why we are unable to disclose it.
If you are unhappy with any aspect of our response to your request, you may contact the Complaints Department.
Information Commissioners Office
You can also contact:
The Information Commissioners Office Northern Ireland
3rd Floor, 14 Cromac Place
Belfast
BT7 2JB
Tel: 028 9027 8757 or 0303 123 1114
Email: ni@ico.org.uk