Links to other pages within Patient UK which are related to this topic: Experience | News | Products | Other
Print options:Other options:
This is a PatientPlus article. PatientPlus articles are written for doctors and so the language can be technical. However, some people find that they add depth to the articles found in the other sections of this website which are written for non-medical people.
The 1997 report of the Review of Patient-Identifiable Information, chaired by Dame Fiona Caldicott (the Caldicott Report), made a number of recommendations for regulating the use and transfer of patient-identifiable information between NHS organisations in England and to non-NHS bodies.1,2
It set out 6 principles to consider when any patient identifiable data is accessed or passed on.
Justify the purpose(s) for using confidential information.
Only use it when absolutely necessary.
Use the minimum that is required.
Access should be on a strict need-to-know basis.
Everyone must understand his or her responsibilities.
Understand and comply with the law.
Larger NHS organisations (and non NHS organisations using the data) need to nominate an appropriate Caldicott guardian to act as the ‘conscience’ of the organisation, who then helps to enable appropriate information sharing whilst ensuring the application of the principles above, and advises on options for lawful and ethical processing of information as required.
Strategy & Governance: the Caldicott Guardian should champion confidentiality issues at Board/management team level, should sit on an organisation’s Information Governance Board/Group and act as both the ‘conscience’ of the organisation and as an enabler for appropriate information sharing.
Confidentiality & Data Protection expertise: the Caldicott Guardian should develop a knowledge of confidentiality and data protection matters, drawing upon support staff working within an organisation’s Caldicott function but also on external sources of advice and guidance where available.
Internal Information Processing: the Caldicott Guardian should ensure that confidentiality issues are appropriately reflected in organisational strategies, policies and working procedures for staff. The key areas of work that need to be addressed by the organisation’s Caldicott function are detailed in the Information Governance Toolkit.
Information Sharing: the Caldicott Guardian should oversee all arrangements, protocols and procedures where confidential patient information may be shared with external bodies both within, and outside, the NHS and CSSRs. This includes flows of information to and from partner agencies, sharing through the NHS Care Records Service (NHS CRS) and related IT systems, disclosure to research interests and disclosure to the police.
Individual general medical and dental practices, pharmacists and opticians do not need to appoint a Caldicott Guardian, but do need to have an Information Governance lead who should be a lead clinician or high level manager, with the knowledge and authority to provide the same role.3
In GP surgeries, the responsibility for making decisions about disclosure ultimately rests with the GP.4 Data Protection officers may be available to advise on subject access requests by members of the public, and guidance on dealing with such requests is available on the Department of Health website.
The Data Protection Principles
Personal data must be:
Processed fairly and lawfully
Processed for specified purposes
Adequate, relevant and not excessive
Accurate and kept up-to-date
Not kept for longer than necessary
Processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects
Protected by appropriate security (practical and organisational)
Not transferred outside the European Economic Area without adequate protection
The authors and editors of this article are employed to create accurate and up to date content reflecting reliable research evidence, guidance and best clinical practice. They are free from any commercial conflicts of interest. Find out more about updating.
Patient UK Hearing Impairment Survey
Patient UK are grateful to the 550 people who took part in this survey. To see the results click here. If you'd like to leave your feedback, please go to our interactive forum.
Links to other pages within Patient UK which are related to this topic: Experience | News | Products | Other
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Information Leaflets which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Support Groups which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Medicines & Drugs which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of diagrams which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of PatientPlus (detailed reference) articles which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of UK Guidelines which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of other selected websites which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Poems and Stories which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Operations and Procedures which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Online Videos which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links through to our interactive forum. Here you can follow a link to view existing patient experiences on this subject, or to add your own
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to news stories on this subject in our Online Newspaper
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to related products
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to other useful sources of information
Click here to open a printer-friendly version of this document, in a new window, together with the print dialogue box
Click here to open this document in PDF format This will offer you the usual PDF options i.e. document navigation, search, zoom and formatted print Note: this is the best way to print the document
Click here to listen to the MP3 audio recording of this document
Click here to download the audio recording of this document as a podcast, for listening to at your leisure
Click here to open our Dictionaries and Glossaries page
Click here to see related products in our Online Pharmacy Note: this will open in a new window
Click here to add this page to a social bookmarking site of your choice
Click here if you want to find out more about social bookmarking. This link will take you to the Wikipedia explanation Note: this will open in a new window
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Information Leaflets which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Support Groups which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Medicines & Drugs which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of diagrams which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of PatientPlus (detailed reference) articles which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of UK Guidelines which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of other selected websites which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Poems and Stories which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Operations and Procedures which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Online Videos which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links through to our interactive forum. Here you can follow a link to view existing patient experiences on this subject, or to add your own
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to news stories on this subject in our Online Newspaper
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to related products
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to other useful sources of information
Click here to open a printer-friendly version of this document, in a new window, together with the print dialogue box
Click here to open this document in PDF format This will offer you the usual PDF options i.e. document navigation, search, zoom and formatted print Note: this is the best way to print the document
Click here to listen to the MP3 audio recording of this document
Click here to download the audio recording of this document as a podcast, for listening to at your leisure
Click here to open our Dictionaries and Glossaries page
Click here to see related products in our Online Pharmacy Note: this will open in a new window
Click here to add this page to a social bookmarking site of your choice
Click here if you want to find out more about social bookmarking. This link will take you to the Wikipedia explanation Note: this will open in a new window
Click here to return to the home page
Click here to read our 'About Us' page
Go to the Emis Access website, where you can book an appointment with your GP, order a repeat prescription or view you medical record online. Note: this will open in a new window
View and/or join in discussion about health, lifestyle and disease in our interactive forum. Note: this will open in a new window