The Your Care Connected Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) is a document which clearly outlines the legal duties and responsibilities of those involved in the sharing of patient information.

As members of the NHS, as well as safeguarding our patient data, we also have a duty to share information where it is done legally, safely and securely, to improve the direct care our patient’s receive. Our DSA has been developed with this in mind and we have worked collaboratively with the LMC and the BMA to ensure we protect the interests of all data controllers (which in this case is our practices). We also consulted with the Information Commissioner’s Office, Medical Defence Unions and the General Medical Council. Their advice and guidance has been reflected in the DSA and you can read Birmingham LMC's response here.

The DSA is now ready to be distributed to practices, having been reviewed and double-checked by independent legal experts appointed by Dr Robert Morley on behalf of Birmingham LMC. The solicitors, who specialise in Information Governance in primary care, were satisfied that the risk to practices of information sharing via the Your Care Connected programme is  very low, with the potential benefits to our patients significantly outweighing this slight risk.

All practices who wish to participate in Your Care Connected will be required to sign the DSA.

Your practice's designated Caldicott Guardian will need to review, sign and return the DSA if your practice intends to share patient information through Your Care Connected.

Signing the DSA will also allow us to begin the mail out to your patients to make them aware of Your Care Connected. We will provide them with sufficiently clear information for them to make an informed decision about whether or not they wish their data to be shared through the service when they visit one of the participating secondary care organisations.

• Review the document with your management team and Caldicott Guardian
• Sign and return the signature page if your practice wishes to participate in Your Care Connected – you can do this electronically or via the post

You can request a copy of the Your Care Connected Phase One Data Sharing Agreement between GP Practices and Providers of NHS Funded Care by contacting the team.