Privacy Notice – Lung Cancer Screening

 

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) have been selected to lead and support Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) Formally Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) programme roll out over Coventry & Warwickshire in preparation for a national lung cancer screening programme due 2028/29. UHCW will be working in partnership with George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH) & South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) to offer the TLHC programme across the area. The aim of the programme is to identify lung cancers at an earlier stage through Low Dose CT (LDCT) scans. Before the service again roll out in 2021, UHCW diagnosed 20% of lung cancers in the early stages 1 & 2, post implementation of the programme this has increased to 78% which has provided patients with better successful outcomes.  

 

The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) advises that Lung Cancer Screening is recommended for people aged 55 to 74 who have been identified as being at high risk of lung cancer. Evidence shows that screening with low dose computed tomography (LDCT):

•        Reduces lung cancer mortality.

•        It is acceptable to patients and professionals if adequately resourced and quality assured.

 

The UK NSC recommended that the four nations move towards implementation of Lung Cancer Screening with integrated smoking cessation service provision. The LCS programme provides a feasible and effective starting point for implementation in England – details can be found here.

 

Patients may show concern on the effectiveness of lung cancer screening which can be answered through evidence from nine Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT) with long term follow up.  Two large fair to good quality RCTs suggest screening people at high risk of lung cancer with LDCT can reduce lung cancer mortality and may reduce all-cause mortality. These results have been confirmed in meta-analyses. The RCTs have also shown that screening have identified people at an earlier stage of lung cancer when treatment is more effective, compared to people who have had no screening and were diagnosed with lung cancer. The Nelson Trial can be found here.

 

Please read this Privacy Notice carefully as it sets out the basis on which any personal data we process will be handled. This Notice sets out the types of personal data that we collect about you and will explain how and why your personal data is used. We will also explain how long your data will be kept and when, why and with whom your data may be shared.

This Notice sets out the legal basis we have for processing your personal data and explains the effects of refusing to provide the personal data requested. We will also explain the various rights and choices that you have when it comes to your personal data and how you can contact us.

What personal data do we collect about you and where from?

Information from your lung health check appointment, possible CT scan and your GP Practice will be kept on a register of people who meet the eligibility criteria to provide this service and monitor your needs, and the quality of care provided. The register holds your full name, NHS number, gender, date of birth, ethnic group, phone numbers, correspondence addresses, smoking status and details of your GP Practice, as well as details of your medical record related to your lung health.

Who do we share your personal data with?

The Lung Health Check Service will keep information about you and your lung care to ensure we deliver a safe and quality service. The register IT software is developed & maintained by Nelson+ B.V. This company is a NHS Business Partner contracted by the NHS to provide a Patient Administration System (PAD) (IT software). UHCW staff will run the service conducting the screening.

 

If you are eligible for a CT scan, we will securely upload your images and appointment information to the UHCW Radiology department for analysis by a qualified Radiologist provided by HLH Imaging group and Aidence B.V (AI CT scan reporting). These companies are NHS Business Partner contracted by the NHS.

 

If required, some patients will then have their scans further reviewed by the trust Screening Review Meetings (SRM) which will be held weekly by the Trust Radiologist and Respiratory Consultant (UHCW GEH or SWFT) to help identify those who need further support.  You will receive your results directly via a letter or phone call and GP will be notified of the results.

 

Gov.UK Notify

Gov.UK Notify provides a text messaging service which is used by UHCW to send text messages to patients in relation to their appointments and patient satisfaction surveys. To support this, your mobile telephone number and time/venue of your appointments is shared with Gov.UK Notify.  This data is used only for this purpose and is retained for a short period to allow for monitoring of service performance.

 

We will share anonymous aggregate data with NHSE for purposes of planning, resourcing and evaluation. For example – how many scans or Lung Health checks we provide, how many lung cancers are detected.

 

Dispatch of Invitation and Result Letters

To send appointment and result letters, UHCW use internal postage & printing systems via Royal Mail business class.

 

How long do we keep your personal data for?

Nelson Plus will keep your information secure for the length of the contract in place with UHCW to supply the PAS system. After this time, your data and images will be securely transferred to the new provider under instruction from UHCW and then delete all personal data in a secure manner.

Who has access to your personal data?

The security arrangements that protect your privacy ensure that your data is only accessed by staff involved in the delivery of the Lung Cancer Screening Service, and healthcare professionals involved in your care working for the UHCW trust or the NHS and only for the purposes of direct care.

How will we communicate with you?

We will communicate with you via letter and text (SMS) message regarding your Lung Health Check. If you wish to talk to us about your communication preferences, please call the Bookings Office.

What legal basis do we have for using your information?

UHCW have been commissioned by the NHSE to deliver this service in support of your direct patient care. Patients are referred to the service via your GP Practice. If you are eligible for a CT scan the images will be reported by HLH & Aidence and sent to UHCW for further action; those who require further clinical review will be sent to their hospital which could be UHCW, GEH or SWFT and they will provide results back to your GP Practice and yourself. If you do not qualify for a CT scan, you will be told at the end of the assessment and your GP Practice will be notified.

How do we protect your information?

We aim to ensure all personal data is held and processed in a secure way and we only let healthcare professionals who have a legitimate interest in your care access to your data. Examples of our security include:

·         Encryption – meaning that the information is hidden so that it cannot be read without special knowledge (such as a password)

·         Controlling access to systems and networks, this allows us to stop people who are not allowed to see your data from accessing it.

·         Controlling access for different user roles, so only certain data required for a specific role is accessible.

·         Training our staff to ensure they know how to handle data, including responsibly and securely and when to report if something goes wrong.

·         Regular testing of our technology includes keeping up to date on the latest security updates.

 

No personal data will be transferred outside the UK.

 

Can you access the information we hold?

Of course, please email the Data Protection Officer (details below) to request a Subject Access Request Form.

 

Where can I get further information?

If you have any queries or concerns about how we handle your personal data, please contact:

 

 

Harjit Matharu-Parker (Associate Director of IG & DPO)

University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire (UHCW)

Clifford Bridge Rd,

Coventry

CV2 2DX

Email: Harjit.Matharu-Parker@uhcw.nhs.uk

Telephone: 024 7696 4000

 

For independent advice about data protection, privacy and data sharing issues, the Information Commissioners Officer (ICO) are always happy to help:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House,

Water Lane

Wilmslow,

Cheshire,

SK9 5AF

Website: www.ico.org.uk

Telephone: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745 (national rate)