Health Survey for England survey: GDPR information
Summary
Why and how we process your data in the Health Survey for England survey and your rights.
| Controller | NHS Digital |
| How we use the information (processing activities) | The Health Survey for England (HSE) is an important annual survey looking at changes in the health and lifestyles of people. It is processed to monitor policy and improve health and social care services in England. NHS Digital commissions NatCen Social Research to deliver the survey. The information is processed to produce official statistics publications and data tables. During the survey, permission is sought to link survey responses to health information, such as in-patient or out-patient care, accident and emergency, death records, social care, mental health services and cancer records. The linked data is processed to understand more about health behaviours and lifestyle choices and interactions with health and social care services. The final dataset is anonymised, in accordance with the ICO Anonymisation Code of Practice and the Government Statistical Service Disclosure Control Guidance for Microdata Produced from Social Surveys. All personal identifiable data is removed (such as name, address, date of birth) and is replaced with new data items such as age calculated and grouped into age bands (0-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20), address replaced with region (North West, South East). The data set is then made available for secondary use to researchers. Dissemination of this information is via the UK Data Service which is a national archive for social research where researchers can apply to access the data. Access is limited to applicants based in higher education or further education institutions, central and local government, NHS, research companies and charities for not-for-profit education and research purposes only. Access requests from applicants not in the above categories will be subject to NHS Digital approval. Participants are consented for further research and if they agree they will be invited to take part in future studies. Consent only covers being approached to receive more information about the study. Participants can say no to taking part. Before being approached to take part in the study, NHS Digital will check participants' contact details against the Personal Demographic Service, to make sure that the latest contact details are used. |
| Does this contain sensitive (special category) data such as health information? | Yes |
| Who are recipients of this data? |
The data collection is available to users registered with the UK Data Service. Access is limited to applicants based in higher education or further education institutions, central and local government, NHS, research companies and charities for not-for-profit education and research purposes only. Applicants not in the above categories will be subject to approval by NHS Digital. |
| Is data transferred outside the UK? | No |
| How long the data is kept | Personal data is deleted within 12 months of archiving the dataset, unless respondents have given permission for future contact or data linkage. Personal data is then kept until consent is revoked. |
| Our lawful basis for holding this data | Legal obligation |
| Your rights |
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| How can you withdraw your consent? |
You can withdraw consent for future contact or data linkage and can ask for your data deleting by contacting NHS Digital. |
| Is the data subject to decisions made solely by computers? (automated decision making) | No |
| Where does this data come from? | Participants are randomly selected members of the general public living in households in England. |
| The legal basis for collecting this data | Article 6(1)(c) Legal obligation (Commencement Order) |
Where we use this data
Health Surveys Service
We have the expertise and experience of running and commissioning complex national health surveys on behalf of government departments and public bodies.