First statutory National Data Guardian for Health and Social Care appointed
Dame Fiona Caldicott has been appointed as the first statutory National Data Guardian (NDG) for Health and Social Care. This remit of this role is to ensure that the public can trust that health and care information is secure and used appropriately.
The role of the NDG was placed on to a statutory footing in December 2018 when the Health and Social Care (National Data Guardian) Act 2018 was passed. The legislation is designed to make the role wholly independent.
Dame Fiona said: “The placing of the National Data Guardian role on a statutory footing sends an important signal that there is an independent champion for patients and the public in relation to how health and adult social care data is used”.
Under the new Act, the NDG will be able to issue official guidance about the processing of health and adult social care data, and public bodies, such as GPs, hospitals, care homes, planners and commissioners of services, will have to take note of the guidance that is relevant to them. Organisations such as private companies or charities which are delivering services for the NHS or publicly funded adult social care will also have to take note of the guidance.
During her address at the ‘National Data Guardian: celebrating, reflecting, looking ahead’ event on Monday 11 March 2019, Dame Fiona explained that the statutory footing aims to provide support and guidance rather than impose legal sanction and more regulation.
She went on to note that one of the challenges for the health and social care system is how the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) interacts with the system, in particular with the common law of confidentiality. There is a need for more clarity around this, and that it is on her list for discussion with the ICO.
Dame Fiona also highlighted that as data sharing becomes more complex within health and social care, that it can often be hard for staff to be able to clearly explain to the public how their data is being used, and there is a need for investment in education and training for staff to support this.
The NDG office is seeking views from those with an interest in the use and safeguarding of health and care data and have launched a public consultation on its proposed priorities. The consultation closes at 11:45pm on Friday 22 March 2019.
Last updated : 19 Mar 2019Data sharing agreement checklist and guidance for practices (21 Aug 2019)
Londonwide LMCS is aware of the increasing complexity and number of information and data sharing agreements (DSAs) and documents which practices are receiving to review and sign. To support practices,...New CQC guidance section for practices (20 Aug 2019)
In the past 12 months CQC have visited nearly 400 practices in London and found that: 3 were considered outstanding, 300 were considered ‘good’, 57 required improvement, and 23...Bowel screening update – August 2019 (20 Aug 2019)
NHS England have provided an information sheet to explain the introduction of the faecal immunochemical test (FIT). This replaced the guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBt) at the start of...Tackling social isolation and loneliness to improve health (20 Aug 2019)
Colin Brown, UK Director for Independent Living & Crisis Response at British Red Cross looks at how their expertise will be of use to social prescribing link workers, as they...Primary care buddying system (20 Aug 2019)
The NHS London Leadership Academy is working with primary care providers to support development in the sector, and to facilitate wider working across the health and social care system. They...Vaccination update August 2019 (20 Aug 2019)
Hepatitis B in at risk babies Babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis B require a course of hep B vaccination. The first dose is given within 24 hours in...Londonwide LMCs’ support for Primary Care Network Clinical Directors (20 Aug 2019)
The introduction of the PCN DES means significant changes in the way practices deliver some existing services, and the rolling out of a new range of services. Londonwide LMCs is...Safeguarding payments and collaborative arrangements (15 Aug 2019)
On 11 July 2019 Dr David Geddes, NHSE/I Director of Primary Care Commissioning, wrote to CCGs and STPs advising that payment for safeguarding activity is not covered by core NHS...Tips of the month August 2019 (15 Aug 2019)
We provide weekly tips based on common queries which come through to us from London GPs and practice teams. These are shared via social media and collated for...Congratulations to Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer on becoming CEO of Cambridgeshire LMCs (15 Aug 2019)
At the start of August Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer took over from Dr Guy Watkins as Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire LMC. Katie trained as a GP in London and was previously a medical...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.
follow us on...
