Newsletter: March 2023
UKCGC newsletter
March 2023
Dear colleagues,
As spring approaches, I want to pause and take stock. This winter has been hard for everyone delivering frontline care and the teams that support them. Battling to keep our health and social care system afloat is a constant struggle, and now, more than ever, we need to shore up and support our colleagues.
When it comes to Caldicott matters, we are here for you and want to help. We need to hear from you about where we can best support you. To this end, we will send out a survey soon to better understand your needs, so do look out for that and tell us how we can help.
Finally, Dr Chris Bunch is soon to retire as UKCGC vice chair. Chris was the UKCGC chair from 2017 until December 2021. His tenure greatly improved the UKCGC’s ability to support Caldicott Guardians through the website, online forum, and newsletter. He goes with our warmest thanks for being such a force for good for Caldicott Guardians. Dr George Fernie picks up the reins from Chris, and we’re grateful to have him onboard.
Warmest regards
Dr Arjun Dhillon
UKCGC Chair
UKCGC and National Data Guardian news
Join us at the Caldicott Guardian National Annual Conference 2023: discounted rates for the first 70 applicants
This year, we are sponsoring the Healthcare Conferences UK’s annual national Caldicott Guardian conference, which is taking place in London (or online) on 23 May. As part of this, we helped shape an interesting and varied agenda. The event brings together Caldicott Guardians to understand current issues, the national context and debate and discuss issues they face in practice. UKCGC Chair Dr Arjun Dhillon and National Data Guardian Dr Nicola Byrne will be speaking. Find out more.
The first 70 Caldicott Guardians who use the promotional code HCUK100ukcgc will receive a discounted ticket rate of £100. Note: Discounts are not valid in conjunction with any other offer from the HC-UK Conferences group (including the credit card discount) and are for new bookings only. HC-UK is unable to offer refunds on booked places.
New National Data Guardian guidance enables better public benefit evaluations when data is used in planning, research, and innovation
The National Data Guardian has published new guidance you should be aware of. It will help organisations carry out better public benefit evaluations when planning to use – or allow access to – health and care data for secondary purposes. The National Data Guardian, Dr Nicola Byrne explains why this matters in a blog.
Sector news relevant to Caldicott Guardians
NHS federated data platform
NHS England has launched its procurement for a federated data platform (FDP). This is software to help NHS organisations bring together operational data currently stored in separate systems so staff can access it in a single, secure environment. Every hospital trust and integrated care system will have its own platform but can connect and share data, where helpful. The FDP focuses on elective recovery, vaccination and immunisation, population health management, care coordination and supply chain management.
NHS Digital merges into NHS England
NHS England and NHS Digital legally merged on 1 February 2023, creating a new, single organisation. This means that the NHS’s national data and technology expertise now sits together, providing a closer link between the collection and analysis of data. Health Education England will also merge into NHS England on 1 April 2023. Statutory guidance on NHS England’s protection of patient data has been issued by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care under the power in section 274A of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (‘the 2012 act’). The guidance sets out measures that the Secretary of State expects NHS England to take to protect confidential information when exercising the relevant data functions, as defined by section 253(3) of the Act.
Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill
The Government has presented the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill to Parliament. The Bill was introduced to the House of Commons and given its first reading on Wednesday, 8 March 2023. This stage is formal and takes place without any debate.
Earning the public’s trust on health data
Professor Ben Goldacre, director of the Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, explains why information governance is not enough when it comes to protecting privacy with this article in Digital Health.
Helpful resources
ICO resources to help designers embed data protection by default
The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has produced new guidance to help user experience designers, product managers, and software engineers embed data protection into their products and services from the start.
NHS Information Governance portal
If you haven’t already, it is worth visiting the NHS Information Governance portal as a source of quality advice and helpful resources. It provides guidance on topics such as sharing information with the police and other issues pertinent to Caldicott Guardians.
Understanding Patient Data
Understanding Patient Data provides research and resources for anyone who wants clear, jargon-free explanations of how patient data is used. If you need to talk with colleagues and patients about data, their products will help you to do this. Well respected in the data world, the programme has recently found a new home at the NHS Confederation.