title: The Data Protection Act and patient records.
abstract: Nurses have daily involvement with patient records. The Data Protection Act 1998, which came into force this year, strengthens the patient's right to privacy and health-care staff should be aware of the practical implications of the Act.
authors.affiliation: East Gloucestershire NHS Trust, Cheltenham.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pennels
mesh_terms: D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom