Frequently Asked Questions - Confidentiality/Data protection

How did you get my name and address?

Ipsos MORI is sending questionnaires on behalf of the Department of Health. The Department of Health selected names randomly from the NHS list of patients registered with a GP. Ipsos MORI will keep these contact details confidential and, once the survey has been completed, they will be securely destroyed. Ipsos MORI has not been provided with any clinical information about patients’ health or consultations.

The Department of Health and the PCT share the role of data controller of your personal details. The GP Patient Survey is classified as a form of service evaluation, and as such, it is not necessary under the above data processing agreement to ask patients for their permission to send them the survey. However, if you do not wish to take part in the future please send your identification number on the survey to the mailbox and we will have you withdrawn from the sample.

Have you got access to my health data?

No, absolutely not. Ipsos MORI has only obtained your NHS number, name, address, month and year of birth, and gender so that we can contact you regarding the survey. No information about your health was obtained – this remains confidential between you and your GP.

Month and year of birth and gender information will be used only for purposes of ensuring that the anonymised survey data match the profile of the practice population as closely as possible.

How is my doctor involved in this survey?

The survey is being conducted as part of the current arrangements for contracts between the Department of Health and your GP Practice. The questionnaire is being sent to a random selection of people who are registered with a GP in England, and your name was selected randomly from the list of patients registered with a GP held by the Department of Health.

GP practices have been informed about the survey in advance. They will have access to the anonymised, statistical results for their practice, but will not have access to individual answers.

Does my doctor know about this survey?

Yes, your GP was sent prior information about the survey, including the reasons behind it.

Will my doctor see my answers to this survey?

No, identifiable individual answers will not be seen by anyone outside of Ipsos MORI. Only anonymised data will be provided to the Department of Health and the NHS. No one outside of Ipsos MORI will know who questionnaires have been sent to or returned by.

Will I be identifiable in the results?

What precautions for data protection/confidentiality have been taken?

Ipsos MORI, the administrators of the survey, strictly adheres to the Market Research Society Code of Conduct and the Data Protection Act, and uses all personal information in a responsible and secure manner. Stringent measures have been taken to ensure personal data is securely stored and seen only by the personnel directly involved in the project. Once the survey is completed, Ipsos MORI will destroy all personal data securely.

Has the survey received ethical approval?

Before starting the first survey in 2007 Ipsos MORI consulted the Central Office for Research Ethics Committee (COREC) and were advised that this survey may not be considered as ‘pure research’ but as ‘service evaluation’ – to evaluate the service provided by GPs to their patients in terms of ease of booking an appointment. Hence this survey does not require formal medical research ethical approval. However, Ipsos MORI strictly adheres to the Market Research Society code of research ethics and patient details are not available to be used for anything other than the purpose of this survey.