Feedback Sought On Code Of Practice For Confidential Information
The views of health and care policymakers, patient groups, researchers, regulators, and anyone concerned about medical confidentiality are being sought on a new code which aims to ensure that confidential health and adult social care information is properly handled by all organisations that handle confidential information.
The HSCIC is inviting feedback on its draft Code of Practice on Confidential Information2.
Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the HSCIC is required to publish a Code of Practice. Organisations that handle confidential information about the provision of health and adult social care in England are required to have regard to it, from GP practices and hospital trusts, to commissioners and research organisations.
The HSCIC released a Guide to Confidentiality in Health and Social Care in September 2013 which provided citizens and health and care staff with clear, accessible guidance on the handling of confidential information3.
The Code of Practice aims to complete the picture by providing good practice guidance to those responsible for setting and meeting organisational policies in this arena. It will help organisations to ensure that the right structures and procedures are in place to help all staff follow the confidentiality rules in the previously published guide.
The HSCIC is inviting a wide range of stakeholders to read the draft Code available at www.hscic.gov.uk/cop and provide their feedback by 18August 2014.
Results of the feedback gathering will be published on our website and used to develop the final Code before its publication at the end of September 2014.
