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Public Health Privacy Notice

Who we are and what we do

Public Health is part of Gateshead Council. We are based at the Civic Centre, Gateshead. We provide the following services:   

  • Ill health prevention (including the commissioning of Public Health services, such as smoking prevention, substance misuse, sexual health, health visitor and school nursing programmes etc.) 
  • health promotion 
  • health protection  
  • healthcare public health 
  • intelligence and surveillance  
  • Public health knowledge 

This privacy notice provides specific information about how we process your personal data. It is an addition to the information contained in our Corporate Privacy Notice.   

What type of information is collected about you 

  • name 
  • address/postcode 
  • date of birth/Age 
  • gender 
  • email  
  • carer status  
  • criminal conviction data  
  • domestic abuse data  
  • disability data  
  • health information  
  • images and quotes 
  • mental health status  
  • NHS number 
  • telephone number 
  • racial / ethnic origin  
  • refugee status  
  • school / college  
  • sexual orientation/sex life  

How we collect information about you  

We access information about residents of Gateshead, including people receiving health and care services within Gateshead, as well as, children and young people who attend school in Gateshead. We access information at a local level from our health partners, such as the Integrated Care Board and NHS providers, and a national level from NHS Digital etc.  
 
Data is received and processed in the following formats: 

  • person identifiable data - containing personal data that can identify individuals, such as name, date of birth, gender, address, postcode and NHS number 
  • aggregated data - this is when all anonymised or pseudonymised information has been grouped together, so that it individuals cannot be recognised 
  • anonymised data - this is information about individuals that has had all identifying details removed 
  • pseudonymised data - this contains information about individuals but with the identifiable details replaced with a unique code 

Why we need your information  

Our purpose for collecting personal information is to enable us to: 

  • evidence the need for public health interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of the public 
  • conduct public health surveillance  
  • manage risks to public health, conduct infection control 
  • inform the commissioning and delivery of public health services  
  • target the delivery of health interventions  

Our purpose for collecting your personal data is to enable fulfilment of statutory obligations, learning and best practice, service delivery and provision of advice and promotion.  The lawful basis for our processing is:   

  • consent 
  • performance of a contract to which data subject is party 
  • legal obligation to which the data controller is subject (Health and Social Care Act 2013, NHS Act 2006, Licensing Act 2003, Local Authorities (Public Health Functions and Entry to Premises by Local Healthwatch Representatives) Regulations 2013, Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002) 
  • public interest 

Our lawful basis for processing of sensitive personal data is: 

  • employment, social security and social protection (if authorised by law)  
  • explicit consent 
  • public health (with a basis in law) 

Who your information can be shared with  

Our Corporate Privacy notice explains information sharing the Council carries out. This sharing fulfils statutory obligations, legal requirements and service delivery. Public Health can share your information with: 

  • UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) 
  • emergency services 

Our lawful basis for this sharing is performance of contract, legal obligation and public interest and your consent is not required.  

If we wish to share your information with other council services or third parties for purposes outside of those listed above we will ask your permission.   

How long we will keep your information  

We keep your information for as long as we need to provide services to you. We may also need to keep your information in accordance with legal or other obligations. Where we have no need to keep your data it will be securely destroyed. We keep a Record of Processing Activity (a requirement under the GDPR). This sets out the specific retention periods applicable in different circumstances. For more information please contact: PHBusinessSupportTeam@gateshead.gov.uk 

Where your information is held 

Your data is held within systems that are both UK and non-UK based, but where non-UK based, the processors are subject to the standard contractual clauses or appropriate transfer mechanisms for international transfers. 

How you can update your information  

Our delivery of efficient services depends on the accuracy of your information. 

Please inform us of any changes to the following: 

  • email address 
  • personal circumstances 
  • postal address 
  • any of the other information we hold 

Please contact: PHBusinessSupportTeam@gateshead.gov.uk 

Your information rights  

Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.  

Marketing and e-newsletters  

Please see our email marketing privacy notice.  

Business intelligence, profiling and automated-decision making  

Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.  

Protecting your information  

Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.   

Data Protection Officer  

Data Protection Officer  

Civic Centre 

Regent Street 

Gateshead  

NE8 1HH  

DPOcouncil@gateshead.gov.uk  

0191 433 3000  

Information Commissioner's Office  

The Information Commissioner is the UK's independent body for upholding information rights. Visit their website to find out more about your rights under Data Protection law, and what to expect from us. 

For privacy practices or data protection rights concerns, contact the Information Commissioner's Office:  

Information Commissioner's Office 

Wycliffe House 

Water Lane 

Wilmslow 

Cheshire SK9 5AF  

0303 123 1113 or 01625 545 745  

casework@ico.org.uk