Last Updated on 18 March 2026
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust collects and shares information relating to you and your child.
What happens to the information that you give us about you and your child?
Wherever possible we remove personal details to make it anonymous.
Information may then be shared with other people within the departments of health, social services and the education services.
Everyone working for the NHS and receiving information from the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about patients confidential.
How we know it is you - your child's NHS Number
Every person (you and your child) has a unique reference number – your NHS Number. The number looks like this: 0912458766.
Your NHS Number is unique to you. Using it to identify you correctly is an important step towards improving the safety of your healthcare.
If you know your NHS Number, or have it on a document or letter, you can help healthcare staff find your records more easily and share them safely with other people who are caring for you.
If you are unsure of your NHS number just ask a member of staff.
Why we collect and share information
We have a duty to share information in certain circumstances:
For you and your child
- To assist other services in providing the best ongoing care
- To review and audit the care we provide to ensure high standards
- To investigate complaints or legal cases
For the community and future patients (Research and Planning)
- To plan health care services needed in your area and nationally
- To ensure we obtain the correct levels of funding
- To conduct research and train staff
Your Choice
The Trust is compliant with the National Data Opt-Out. If you do not want your or your child’s confidential patient information to be used for the ‘Community’ and ‘Future patients’ purposes listed above, you can register an opt-out at www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters. This will not affect the care you receive at Sheffield Children’s.
Do you give my information to my relatives?
We do not give information to your friends or relatives without your permission.
What are my rights?
You have the right to object to the sharing of your or your child’s information. There are two main ways to do this:
National Data Opt-Out
This stops your confidential information being used for research and planning across the NHS. You can set this yourself at nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters.
Right to Object (GDPR)
If you wish to object to your information being shared for your direct care (for example, with a local school nurse or another hospital), please speak to the person in charge of your child’s care or contact our Data Protection Officer.
Can I see the information held about me and my child?
Yes you may have a right of access to your child’s health record.
Please visit the medical records request webpage which gives you guidance on how to request the information you need.
Email: scn-tr.schsars@nhs.net
Please do not send any personal information via email.
Call 0114 305 58103 for further guidance and support.
Use of cameras and video equipment for recording, including consultations, and/or images within the Trust
The Trust requests that patients’ privacy is respected and reminds patients and visitors that the use of devices to capture pictures and/or video of other individuals is not permitted without their consent whilst on Trust premises.
Video or recordings – including consultations e.g. discussions with your doctor – may only be conducted after discussion and agreement with the relevant individuals concerned/involved in the consultation.
General Data Protection Regulation requests
The General Data Protection Regulation (formerly the Data Protection Act 1998) came into force on 25 May 2018.
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has a process in place to enable the public to find information about how the Trust manages your information and how to exercise your rights under the regulation.
The Trust has a Data Protection Officer who will manage your request/enquiry.
- email your request/enquiry to scn-tr.dataprotection@nhs.net.
- write to the Data Protection Officer (Mark Talbot), IM&T Department, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TH
All requests will be responded to within 30 working days.
Further information
If at any time you would like to know more about how we use information or make an objection please speak to the person in charge of your child’s care or write to the hospital.
Further information on your legal rights can be obtained from
Patient Advice and Liaison (PALS)
or
The Office of the Information Commissioner (Data Protection)
Helpline: 0303 123 1113
Specific national advice can be obtained from the Department of Health
Telephone: 020 7210 4850
Minicom: 020 7210 5025
Make an enquiry
