Introducing the Clinical Audit System (CAS) – and why CEN NMCN needs your input
CEN NMCN have developed an online database called the Clinical Audit System (CAS) within which we would like to capture information about children and young people living with exceptional healthcare needs in Scotland. The aim of capturing this information is to
- Map the number of children with exceptional healthcare needs in Scotland and use this information to improve services in local health board areas
- improve care, co-ordination, planning and services for children and young people with exceptional healthcare needs
- to hold information that will help professionals who support you/your child, to do this better
What sort of information is collected?
The information we collect includes the child/young person’s basic demographic information (name, address, DOB), their primary and other conditions, the range of professionals involved in their care and the technology required to support them.
We also collect information about your child’s diagnosis, condition, visits to clinics, any other conditions, and interventions (such as scans and vaccinations), as well as their name, date of birth and CHI (Community Health Index) number.
What do I have to do?
The key professional for the child/young person will take responsibility for the child/young person’s details to be added to the database (CAS). You will be provided with information about CAS. It is voluntary and the child/young person’s details can be removed at any point in the future. The information will be input and stored in a secure centralised database to which only local health staff who deal directly with the patient have access along with an analyst dedicated to the CEN network.
How is patient confidentiality guaranteed?
The child’s participation will be kept strictly confidential and all information will be handled in exactly the same way all NHS boards handle all other patient information. The system will be password protected and held on the NSS encrypted server with only health professionals directly involved with CEN NMCN having access to this data. The handling and management of data collected within the Clinical Audit System uphold the requirements stated within the General Data Protection Regulations 2018.
Why have I been chosen to take part in the scheme?
You have been chosen because your child is looked after in clinics and hospital visits that are run by professionals working as part of CEN.
Who manages the database?
The overall managers of the database are the National Services Division (part of NHS National Services Scotland), which is the common name for the Common Services Agency of the Scottish Health Service. National Services Scotland and the 14 NHS health boards are joint data controllers. Professionals from the health board in your area will enter the information onto the database.
Confidentiality
We will keep the fact that your child is taking part in the scheme confidential and will handle their information in exactly the same way hospitals handle all other patient information. We will use an internal NHS computer network that will have no access to other networks outside the NHS in Scotland. The system will be password-protected and only those who are authorised will have access to it.
Your information will be held in line with the NHS Code of Practice (Scotland) 2012.
Who has reviewed CAS?
The Network Steering Group and the Scottish Government Health Directorate have reviewed CAS and it has been approved by the Caldicott Guardians (people appointed by the Scottish Government Health Directorate to make sure information about patients is kept secure).
Processing your Information
The network processes your information under a legal basis defined in the data protection legislation.
The Right to Object
When the network is processing your personal information for the purpose of the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority you have the right to object to the processing and also seek that further processing of your personal information is restricted. Provided the network can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for processing your personal information, for instance; patient safety or for evidence to support legal claims, your right will not be upheld.
You have the right to know what information we hold about you. To access this information, you will need to send a subject access request to your health board.
You also have the right to restrict how we handle your information, or alter or delete it, if you think it is not accurate.
For more information, contact:
National Network Management Service
National Services Scotland
Area 062, Gyle Square
1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh EH12 9EB.
Phone: 0131 275 7612
Email: nss.cen@nhs.scot
Website: http://www.cen.scot.nhs.uk/
If you have any concerns about data protection within National Services Scotland, please contact our Data Protection Officer at: nss.dataprotection@nhs.net or you can ask at your health board how to contact your Board Data Protection Officer.
If you feel we have not kept to data-protection laws when handling your information, you can make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): www.ico.org.uk
If you would like to find out more about the Clinical Audit System or find out details of your CAS champion in your local NHS Board, please contact the team that looks after the CAS at: nss.imsrequests@nhs.scot