1. NHS Digital
  2. Right arrow icon Data and information
  3. Right arrow icon Looking after information

Looking after information

Data security and information governance to keep health and care information safe and share it securely.

How we look after information

We take our responsibility for looking after care information very seriously. We follow legal rules, guidance and practices known as Information governance for our data collections and IT Infrastructure Systems.

Read more about how NHS Digital makes sure your information is safe.

Data security and information governance

NHS Digital offers guidance on protecting data and handling information securely.

Our guidance is designed to help health and care organisations meet the standards required to handle care information.

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    UK Caldicott Guardian Council

    A Caldicott Guardian is a senior person responsible for protecting the confidentiality of people's health and care information and making sure it is used properly.

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    Data Security & Protection Toolkit (DS&P)

    The Data Security and Protection Toolkit is an online self-assessment tool that allows organisations to measure their performance against the National Data Guardian’s 10 data security standards. This used to be known as the IG Toolkit.

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    Data Security and Protection Toolkit

    The Data Security and Protection Toolkit is an online self-assessment tool that all organisations must use if they have access to NHS patient data and systems.

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    Publication scheme

    This is the publication scheme for NHS Digital, drawn up under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It fulfils the requirements of the Information Commissioner as set out in the model publication scheme for FOI public authorities.

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    Supporting open data and transparency

    Open data is data that can be used and shared by anyone, for any purpose. We make this data publicly available to improve transparency in health and care.

Your personal information choices

We collect information from the records health and social care providers keep about the care and treatment they give.

We can only provide access to identifiable information if it will be used to promote health or support improvements in the delivery of care services in England or the government decides it's an emergency or in the public interest.

Find out more about your choices