COPI Notices extended for a further three months until 30 June 2022
Simon Madden, Director of Data Policy at NHSX ,on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, notified GP practices on 10 February 2022 that the COPI notice which was set to expire on 31 March 2022 has been extended for a further three months until 30 June 2022.
Under the COPI notice organisations are only required to process confidential patient information (CPI):
- where the CPI to be processed is required for a COVID-19 purpose and will processed solely for that COVID-19 purpose in accordance with Regulation 7 of COPI
- from the date of this notice (10 February 2022) until 30 June 2022 (this also includes a case where the dissemination of the CPI in question was authorised under a previous COPI notice which began before the 10 February 2022 and where the processing is set to continue after this date).
The NHS Transformation Directorate have advised organisations to use the short extension of the COPI notice to prepare and ensure that all processing which relies on the COPI notices is ready to cease or move to an alternative sustainable legal basis by 30 June 2022.
In addition, the COPI notice to GP Practices in England whose IT systems are supplied by TPP or EMIS requiring them to release primary care patient data, in respect of UK Biobank’s consented participants only, to UK Biobank, for the purposes set out in Regulation 3(1) of COPI has also been extended until 30 June 2022.
For background information: Regulation 3 of the Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002 (COPI Regulations) enables those working for the purposes of the health service, and other organisations employed by a public authority in communicable disease surveillance, to share confidential patient information (CPI) to respond to communicable diseases and other threats to public health. It also allows the Secretary of State to issue notices requiring that CPI be shared for such purposes.
Last updated : 22 Feb 2022Supporting GPs’ mental health (17 Aug 2021)
The past 20 months have been an extremely stressful time for many GPs and their practice teams with a significant impact on mental health. We have continued to promote the...Becton Dickinson blood specimen collection portfolio supply disruption (11 Aug 2021)
We have been made aware of a supply problem with one of the major suppliers of the vacutainers used to collect blood for tests. Whilst this may not affect all...LMC elections 2021 - results (02 Aug 2021)
Voting in the 2021 LMC elections closed on 27 July 2021. The results are listed below. Congratulations to all those GPs who have been elected. We look forward to working...Committee Liaison Executive vacancies (2 posts) at Londonwide LMCs (30 Jul 2021)
Londonwide Local Medical Committees is the membership organisation representing over 7,000 constituent NHS general practitioners and 1,200 practice teams in London. Londonwide LMCs provides pan-London leadership and shared committee services...NHS letter to help people without an NHS number access the Covid-19 vaccine and register with a GP (23 Jul 2021)
On 23 July 2021 NHS England and NHS Improvement and Public Health England issued a useful letter which advises people without an NHS number, including people who are migrants, how...LMC elections - voting closing on 27 July (21 Jul 2021)
Elections are taking place for LMCs in Bexley, Ealing, Greenwich, Merton and Redbridge this year. If you are a GP working in one of these LMC areas please ensure you...Access for undocumented patients (21 Jul 2021)
Londonwide LMCs and London’s individual LMCs continue to share information about enabling patients to register for general medical services with GP practices and for Covid-19 vaccinations, regardless of immigration status...Londonwide LMCs' July 2021 newsletter (21 Jul 2021)
...Londonwide LMCs summary briefing: Health and Care Bill 2021 (21 Jul 2021)
Innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all. Full draft text of the Bill. Timing The Health and Care Bill received its first reading on 6 July...NHS 73rd anniversary video (20 Jul 2021)
The health service has accomplished a lot, especially in the past year. We have made this video to recognise the momentous efforts made by GPs, practice staff and others working...Guidance
We provide expert guidance for practices in our guidance section, as well as an archive of other materials you may find useful.
GP Support
Contact our GP Support team if you need help or advice.
The team provide professional and pastoral support to GPs and practice teams on a broad range of issues.