Why should I say yes and what happens if I say yes?
Section 1: Telling our stories
The NHS often has good stories to tell.
Sometimes these stories are about the things the NHS does that people might not know about..
..like helping people use technology.
Other stories are things that happen more often:
Like making sure everyone living in a care home has urgent dental care when they need it. And not have to wait for months for it to happen.
It is good to know that the NHS has positive stories to tell.
It helps everyone to understand what the NHS does.
Sometimes these are small stories and sometimes they are big stories.
All of them, however, are about people having care and support from the NHS.
To tell those stories, we use photographs, videos and audio recordings and written stories.
Often, the story is about people who are using one of our local NHS services.
This includes telling a story about your own NHS health care.
“well , maybe….” you might say. “But….
Who is the NHS sharing my story with?
What if I don’t want to share my story?
What are the rules?
Can I change my mind?”
These are excellent questions!
To answer them, the NHS Essex has written a set of rules.
The rules are called:
‘Consent to media content: photo, video, audio recording or case study’
You can find them on our local NHS Essex website. This is the link: Consent to Media Content
Later in the booklet, we say more about saying ‘Yes’ to sharing your story.
Section 2: Who is the NHS sharing my story with?
This booklet is about the part of the NHS that looks after people in Essex.
We are called the NHS Essex Integrated Care board (ICB).
We want to share your story with as many people as possible.
The first place is with all the NHS hospitals, GP surgeries and the many other places where you have your NHS care in Essex.
We also share stories with the organisations we work with, such as:
all of the local councils, the police and the fire service.
community and faith organisations in Essex.
schools, colleges and universities.
Then there are the local newspapers, radio and TV.
You will often see or hear NHS stories in the local media.
Other places where we could talk about your story include:
NHS information leaflets
Charity and fundraising events
Reports about what is happening in the local NHS
On websites and noticeboards of the many NHS hospitals, GP surgeries and other places where you go for NHS care locally
Local NHS social media such as: YouTube, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Nextdoor.
Our web page has a list of other places where your story could be shared.
Section 3: Saying ‘Yes’ to sharing my story
We will ask you to say Yes to sharing your story.
You can do this by signing a form on our website:
If you do not want to share your story, you do not need to do anything.
We cannot share your story if you have not signed to say Yes.
We will put your information in our online library of stories. This library is kept on our local NHS computer network.
This network is very safe.
Only NHS staff, or people approved by the NHS, can use it.
From time to time we will look at our library to see if we still need to keep your information.
The information will be kept for 5 years.
After 5 years, it will be deleted.
You can ask us to remove your information at any time.
You can do this by emailing:
It may not be possible to remove your image from leaflets and posters which have already been published.
Our website has more information about what the law says we must do to look after your information.
For more information:
Visit our website: https://www.essex.icb.nhs.uk/
or email: [email protected]