Confidentiality. Part 3: Caldicott guardians and the control of data.

In the preceding articles on confidentiality, a framework of understanding has been built up by exploring two features of the subject. First, legal obligations that arise from the common law have been reviewed, and second, the scope of understanding has been expanded by rehearsing the requirements placed on professionals by their respective regulatory bodies. The Nursing and Midwifery Council and the General Medical Council have worked extensively to provide guidance on the subject of patient confidentiality. This third and final article will explore the issues raised by the way in which technology has presented public services with concerns as to the acquisition, storage, use and dissemination of data. The position of Caldicott guardians will be described, as their role has been created by Government to ensure that data is held, accessed and used in a manner that facilitates proper access by competent health providers while maintaining the confidentiality of private, personal health records.