About your online health records
Health records (also known as patient records) are a log of your health and the treatment you have received from the NHS. We hold this information to ensure you receive the best possible care now and in the future.
Viewing your health record online
You can view information that we hold about your care on our secure health record system, the Care Information Exchange (CIE). Your CIE record may include these details from your treatment at our hospitals:
- blood test results
- X-ray and scan reports
- letters and discharge summaries
- appointment dates and times, both past and future
You will also see information from any recent treatment at:
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
- Hillingdon Hospital
- Mount Vernon Hospital
- West Middlesex University Hospital
The Care Information Exchange is powered by Patients Know Best (PKB). You will not be able to see anyone else’s information without written permission and a really good reason.
Registering for access to the CIE
If you are a patient at our hospitals you can register now for the Care Information Exchange using your NHS login. There are three steps.
Get your NHS login
You will need an email address, a mobile phone number and a way to prove your identity—this can be a passport, a driving licence, or a European identity card. This step takes a little time but you only need to do it once.
Create your CIE account
Your account will allow you to view your information on your CIE record including appointments, letters, and test results.
Link your NHS login to your CIE account
This is the final step. Now you can log in to your CIE account using your NHS login username and password whenever you want to.
Keeping your personal information secure
The CIE uses a system provided by Patients Know Best. Your information on the CIE is held in the secure NHS network. It will only be used by healthcare professionals for your direct care. You can choose to share your care record with your family, carers, GP and other health professionals if you wish to.
Accessing your health records
If you’d prefer not to use our secure patient portal, or if you’d like copies of past records, find how how you can request your medical records.
Withheld information in your health records
Under data protection laws, information may be withheld for specific reasons—for example, we do not disclose data in your record that includes private information about another person.
Looking at other people's health records
You are not permitted to access other people's health records without their written consent—even if you have this, you may be required to provide additional supporting information.
We may be able to give you information relating to another person if:
- they have consented to release information to you
- you have legal parental responsibility, or have been appointed by the court to manage their affairs when they are unable to do so, for example through power of attorney
In the case of children, if it is considered that they understand the reason for the application, then their consent may be required.
Complaints
- If you are unhappy with any aspect of the way in which we deal with your request, you may complain in writing to caw-tr.cie@nhs.net.
- Information Commissioner’s Office
- How we use your information
- Data Protection Officer: dpo.chelwest@nhs.net
Your NHS number
Everyone registered with the NHS in England and Wales has their own unique NHS number. Your NHS number helps healthcare staff to identify you correctly, find your patient records and ensures the safety of your healthcare. Your NHS number is printed on the medical card given to you when you register with a GP practice. Each NHS number is made up of ten digits, as shown in this example: 123 456 7890.
How we protect your information
Providing care across North West London
Staff involved in your care work with other healthcare professionals in north west London and need to be able to see relevant information about you, so we share some information as required. This information can include your NHS number, age, contact details, next of kin, medication and allergies, appointments, treatment and care, and test results such as blood tests, laboratory tests, and X-rays. This will ensure when you visit your GP practice, the hospital, or get support in your community or at home, your care professional will have the right information about you at the right time.
For example, we share our Cerner electronic patient record system with The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which includes Hillingdon Hospital and Mount Vernon Hospital. Let’s say you are treated at one of our hospitals and at Mount Vernon Hospital. Your clinical teams will see information that has been collected about you at both hospitals. Only staff involved in your direct care will look at your record. And they will have a more complete picture of your health when they make decisions about your care.
We share your information with health and social care organisations who are involved in looking after you, unless you ask us not to. This is known as ‘implied consent’. If you would like to opt out of sharing your information with other health and social care organisations, or if you have any questions or concerns, please speak to your clinician or contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service.