We have detected that you are using Internet Explorer to visit this website. Internet Explorer is now being phased out by Microsoft. As a result, NHS Digital no longer supports any version of Internet Explorer for our web-based products, as it involves considerable extra effort and expense, which cannot be justified from public funds. Some features on this site will not work. You should use a modern browser such as Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. If you have difficulty installing or accessing a different browser, contact your IT support team.
Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data
The Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data (IGARD) considers all requests for dissemination of confidential information, as defined in Section 263 of the Health & Social Care Act, through the Data Access Request Service (DARS).
IGARD coronavirus (COVID-19) response
IGARD is now meeting twice a week to meet coronavirus (COVID-19) as urgent requirements. Although the COVID-19 Response Meetings are separate to the Thursday IGARD meetings, to ensure transparency of process, a meeting summary of the COVID-19 Response Meetings are captured as part of IGARD’s minutes as an appendix.
We are prioritising requests for data in respect of COVID-19 as urgent requirements. This means that other applications or enquiries may be delayed.
If you have any immediate concerns, please contact your case officer directly or email enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk referencing DARS in the subject field.
Page contents
We aim to improve transparency, accountability, quality and consistency through robust, independent scrutiny of NHS Digital data distributions, as well as providing a voice for stakeholders and the public.
IGARD also makes general recommendations or observations to NHS Digital about their processes, policies and procedures, including transparency measures such as registers.
Building confidence through information governance
NHS Digital takes the importance of information governance very seriously. Controls and procedures are in place to make sure we demonstrate the highest standard of stewardship and governance of the information we handle. NHS Digital makes sure that our processes are appropriate for governing the receipt, processing and publication of data that does not compromise confidentiality and maximises the use of information.
IGARD independently assesses applications for data. This ensures that the use of patient data within research, academia, the public and private sector is done in controlled environments, where any risks of disclosure are minimised.
IGARD membership
IGARD is made up of a panel of independent specialist and lay members. Find out more about our members.
Meeting dates
The next meeting dates are:
- 4 March
- 11 March
- 18 March
- 25 March
Meeting minutes
The minutes from each IGARD meeting are published within a week of the following IGARD meeting. We publish a rolling 6 months of meeting minutes. If you have any questions, or if you need minutes from older IGARD or DAAG meetings, please email the IGARD Secretariat at IGARD@nhs.net.
February 2021
25th February minutes will be published as soon as possible
18 February - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 16th February 2021
11 February - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 9th February 2021
4 February - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 2nd February 2021
January 2021
28 January - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 26th January 2021
21 January - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 19th January 2021
14 January - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 7th January and 12th January 2021
December 2020
17 December - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 15th December 2020
10 December - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 8th December 2020
3 December - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 1st December 2020
November 2020
26 November - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 24th November 2020
12 November - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 10th November 2020
5 November - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 3rd November 2020
October 2020
29 October - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 27th October 2020
22 October - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 20th October 2020
15 October - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 13th October 2020
8 October - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 6th October 2020
1 October - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 29th September 2020
September 2020
24 September - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 22nd September 2020
17 September - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 8th September and 15th September 2020
3 September - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 1st September 2020
August 2020
27 August - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 25th August 2020
20 August - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 18th August 2020
13 August - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 11th August 2020
6 August - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 4th August 2020
July 2020
30 July - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from the 28th July 2020
23 July - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 21 July 2020
16 July - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 14 July 2020
9 July- including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 7 July 2020
2 July - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 30 June 2020
June 2020
25 June - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 23 June 2020
18 June - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 16 June 2020
11 June - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 2 June and 9 June 2020
May 2020
28 May - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 26 May 2020
21 May - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 12 May and 19 May 2020
7 May - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 5 May 2020
April 2020
30 April - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 28 April 2020
23 April - including the COVID-19 Response Meeting minutes from 21 April 2020
9 April
2 April
March 2020
26 March
19 March
12 March
5 March
February 2020
27 February
13 February
6 February
September 2017 to January 2020 minutes can be found on our archive page.
Standard operating procedures and related documents
-
internal
IGARD member role profiles
Members of the Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data (IGARD) are independent from NHS Digital, and must meet the requirements set out here. Members can be the chair, a specialist member, or a lay member.
-
asset
IGARD declaration of interests May 2020 [pdf, size: 97.8 kB]
-
asset
Authority of IGARD Chair Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) [pdf, size: 75.9 kB]
-
asset
IGARD – NHS Digital COVID-19 Response Meeting SOP [pdf, size: 94.2 kB]
-
asset
IG Advisor to IGARD [pdf, size: 50.9 kB]
-
asset
IGARD glossary v1.5 October 2020 [pdf, size: 96.2 kB]
-
asset
IGARD terms of reference 2.0 [pdf, size: 144.7 kB]
-
asset
The History of IGARD [pdf, size: 150.9 kB]
-
asset
IGARD Members Skills and Expertise [pdf, size: 64.6 kB]
-
asset
IGARD out of committee SOP v0.11 [pdf, size: 88.5 kB]
-
asset
IGARD In-Meeting Makeup, Meeting Content & Recommendation Type SOP v0.7 [pdf, size: 86.9 kB]
-
asset
IGARD Appeals, Compliments and Service Improvement Procedure v2.5 [pdf, size: 149.5 kB]
-
asset
IGARD applicant is a member SOP V0.6 [pdf, size: 60.8 kB]
-
asset
IGARD clinicians as members SOP v0.6 [pdf, size: 54.1 kB]
-
asset
DAAG closure report 2017 [pdf, size: 302.9 kB]
-
asset
Annex B to DAAG closure report - You Said We Did [pdf, size: 356.5 kB]
-
asset
IGARD criteria for assessing applications - EU Funded Projects [pdf, size: 503.8 kB]
Further information
-
internal Data Access Request Service (DARS)
The Data Access Request Service (DARS) can offer clinicians, researchers and commissioners the data required to help improve NHS services. We handle applications, process data and provide access to specific sets of data when requests are approved.
Last edited: 1 March 2021 1:21 pm