Personal data and research

It’s important to us that you understand how we will use your personal data if you take part in research at MFT, and what your rights are under the law.

Health and care research should serve the public interest, which means that we have to demonstrate that our research serves the interests of society as a whole. We do this by following the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research.

Information for patients

The Health Research Authority (HRA) is a non-departmental government body of the Department of Health and Social Care. It is one of a number of organisations that work together in the UK to regulate different aspects of health and social care research.

The HRA provides information on its website which explains how health researchers use information from patients. If you are asked to take part in research, you can ask what will happen in the study.

How does research use patient data?

If you take part in some types of research, like clinical trials, some of the research team will need to know your name and contact details so they can contact you about your research appointments, or to send you questionnaires. Researchers must always make sure that as few people as possible can see this sort of information that can show who you are.

Complaints

If you wish to raise a complaint on how we have handled your personal data, you can contact our Data Protection Officer who will investigate the matter. If you are not satisfied with our response or believe we are processing your personal data in a way that is not lawful you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).