Data Protection: Private Hospitals

Data Protection Notice: arrangement with private hospitals in January 2021

The HSE have come to an arrangement with certain private hospitals for the provision of care during the most recent surge in the pandemic. If you are transferred to a private hospital during this time then your personal data will be provided to that private hospital for the purpose of your treatment.  

The HSE and the private hospital will act as independent data controllers in most circumstances.  In some, they may act as a joint controller of your personal data. This can apply to the initial sharing of information and the return of information to the HSE in relation to your treatment.

Where you seek to exercise any of your data protection rights the party that receives the request will respond to you and will be responsible for processing your request in so far as it relates to jointly controlled personal data.

Agreement with VHI

The HSE has also entered into an agreement with the VHI. The VHI will act as a claims administrator for the HSE in relation to payments to the private hospitals under this arrangement. 

Your personal data may be provided to the VHI in order to evidence the care provided by the private hospital so that these payments can be processed. The HSE is the data controller of any personal data provided to the VHI in this context.  

The HSE complies with its data protection obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Acts 1988-2018.

For further information about how we process your data please see our Privacy Notice for Patients and Service users or contact the HSE Data Protection Office at dpo@hse.ie.