Review of Information Governance by Dame Caldicott

You may be aware that an independent panel of experts chaired by Dame Caldicott is conducting a review of Information Governance on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health.

Given significant concerns raised by PCTs around Information Governance and the functioning of the NHS Health Check, in terms of both the present and future structure, Department of Health are encouraging PCTs to submit evidence by the 25 June if at all possible to Fiona Caldicott.

The review is now underway, and we hope submission of evidence at this stage will mean issues for the NHS Health Check programme can be aired at early panel meetings in later June, although later evidence will also be considered.  

The review will report back its findings later in the year and make recommendations aimed at:

• improving the sharing of personal information to support the care of individuals
• enabling the further use of information more widely to improve health and social care services
• protecting individuals' confidentiality and respecting their wishes in relation to how their information is used.

The leads for the review have advised that they will consider any evidence submitted but that the ideal format would be for it to include some background, a description of the issue and the impact this is having, and some suggestions and solutions that will address this. If there are overlapping issues that you feel are relevant which have a bearing please also mention these e.g. existing legislation, the role of the NIGB or other bodies, overall approaches for public health programmes. Further information can be found on the Information Governance Review web page.