Information watchdog publishes guidance on transparency in health and social care

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published new guidance to “improve transparency” in health and social care.

The guidance, published yesterday (15 April), informs health and social care organisations on how to ensure they are being transparent with people about how their personal information is being used.

Transparency in the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the requirement for organisations to tell people about how they are using their personal information.

The watchdog noted that the health and social care sectors “routinely handle” sensitive information about the most intimate aspects of someone’s health, which is provided in confidence to trusted practitioners.

It added: “Under data protection law, people have a right to know what is happening to their personal information, which is particularly important when accessing vital services.”

Incorporating feedback from a public consultation earlier this year, the guidance aims to help organisations to understand the definition of and assess “appropriate levels” of transparency.

It also provides practical steps to developing effective transparency information, said the watchdog.

Anne Russell, Head of Regulatory Policy Projects at the ICO, said: “Being transparent is essential to building public trust in health and social care services. If people clearly understand how and why their personal information is being used, they are likely to feel empowered to share their health information to both access care and support initiatives such as medical research.   

“As new technologies are developed and deployed in the health sector, our personal information is becoming more important than ever to boost the efficiency and public benefit of these systems. With this bespoke guidance, we want to support health and social care organisations by improving their understanding of effective transparency, ensuring that they are clear, open and honest with everyone whose personal information is being used.”

Lottie Winson