Covert Recording Policy

Introduction - Policy Statement

This policy outlines the procedures that are to be adhered to when patients are seeking to record an interaction or consultation at the Practice.

It is important that whilst supporting individuals wishes, the practice ensures confidentiality is always maintained and that all parties are supported, protected and comfortable with any decisions including staff members.

Status

Patients are welcome to record their consultations with any healthcare professional by either audio or video, there are benefits to recording a consultation for those who may struggle to remember or understand, and this would be a reasonable adjustment in that circumstance.

Other benefits may include:

• When there is a language barrier
• When a patient is particularly distressed
• Supporting those with a cognitive impairment or memory loss
• Include family members in care and decision-making if they are unable to be present
• Supporting the sharing of complex information

Transparency

Strawberry Hill Medical Centre would ask for transparency in any circumstance where a patient or third party would like to make a recording of the practice.

It is courteous and Strawberry Hill Medical Centre Policy, that patients wanting to do so, discuss this and, where possible, gain agreement of the healthcare professional before commencing any recording.

If agreement is sought and a recording made, Strawberry Hill Medical Centre does not consent to the recording being shared via any online platform. The patient would be responsible for ensuring the recording remains on the one device only and is not shared. Strawberry Hill Medical Centre would request that the recording is deleted once it is no longer required for a reasonable reason.

Considerations

We would ask patients and/or any third party to seriously consider the potential consequences of concealing recordings of practice employees. Such behaviour will inevitably damage the trust and relationship between clinician and patient.

We ask that patients considering making a covert recording of an employee consider how they themselves would feel if a member of the surgery made a concealed recording of them during a consultation or discussion. In such a situation, patients would feel rightly violated and the member of staff would face a serious disciplinary issue.

Consequences

Patients found to be doing so will be asked to stop the recording and will receive a behaviour warning which may put at risk their registration with the surgery.

Public Areas within the Practice

No one is permitted to use a recording device in the public areas of the surgery at any time. To do so is deemed as Serious Unacceptable Behaviour, which may lead to removal from the Practice list.

Privacy

Patients have a reasonable expectation of privacy when they attend the Practice. Recorded audio and/or images made in the public areas of the surgery, such as the waiting areas or at the reception desk may reveal personal and intimate information. Such images and audio (that may either be shared, uploaded, or otherwise stored) would cause a serious breach in a patient’s expectation of privacy.

Further Information

Learn more about Patient Recording on the BMA website