National Opt-Out Policy

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Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide individuals with the right to opt out of their personal data being used for purposes beyond their direct care, such as research, planning, or service improvement, in accordance with national data protection laws and best practices.

Scope

This policy applies to:

• All citizens and residents whose data is collected by national health and social care organisations.
• All organisations and third parties processing personal data on behalf of the national system.
• All types of personal data, including health, social care, and administrative data.

Policy Statement

Individuals have the right to opt out of their personal data being used for secondary purposes. Organisations must respect these choices and ensure data is not used or shared in ways that contravene the opt-out.

Principles

• Transparency: Individuals must be informed about how their data is used and their opt-out rights.
• Accessibility: The opt-out process must be simple, accessible, and free of charge.
• Respect for Choice: All organisations must honour opt-out requests promptly and fully.
• Data Minimisation: Only the minimum necessary data should be used for secondary purposes.
• Security: Opt-out preferences must be securely recorded and enforced.

Opt-Out Process

How to Opt Out

• Individuals can opt out online, by phone, or in writing.
• Support must be available for those with accessibility needs.

Recording Opt-Outs

• Opt-out preferences must be recorded in a national database.
• All relevant systems must be updated to reflect the opt-out.

Withdrawing Opt-Out

• Individuals can withdraw their opt-out at any time using the same channels.

Responsibilities

• National Data Controller: Ensures policy implementation and compliance.
• Data Processors: Must check and respect opt-out status before using data for secondary purposes.
• Staff: Must be trained on the policy and able to support individuals exercising their rights.

Exceptions

Opt-out does not apply where:

• Data use is required by law (e.g., public health emergencies).
• Data is anonymised and cannot be linked to individuals.

Monitoring and Review

The policy will be reviewed annually or in response to legislative changes.
Compliance will be monitored through audits and reporting.

Contact

For questions or to exercise your opt-out rights, contact:
enquiries@unitedspine.co.uk