Caldicott Guardians

Throughout the UK, Caldicott Guardians are key figures in safeguarding the confidentiality of patient data throughout the NHS. They were set up in Scotland in 1999 with MEL(1999)19 (Word 63KB).

The Caldicott Guardian is usually a senior health professional at Board level. Key responsibilities of a Caldicott Guardian include:

• a management audit of current practice and procedures;
• annual plans for improvement, monitored through the clinical governance framework; and
• development of protocols to govern the disclosure of patient information to other organisations.

For some studies, applicants to PAC may also have to approach the Caldicott Guardians of other NHS authorities for authorisation to release data. This happens when some of the data involved in their study is not within the custodianship of NSS. A website to provide information on and for NHS Scotland Caldicott Guardians is currently under development by the NHS Scotland National Information Governance Programme. A link will be provided here when the website is launched.

Applicants wishing to identify the relevant Caldicott Guardians(s) for a study should ask the Board headquarters of the NHS Board(s) whose data will be involved in their study for advice on the name and contact details for their Caldicott Guardian.