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.
Data security and information governance
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Data and cyber security: protecting information and data in health and care
Our Data Security Centre supports health and care to keep patient information and computer systems safe.
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Information Governance Alliance (IGA)
National independent group of care organisations promoting good IG.
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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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National Data Guardian (NDG)
Dame Fiona Caldicott independently advises on the use of confidential health and care information.
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IG Statement of Compliance
IG requirements for organisations accessing NHS digital services including N3.
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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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NHS and social care data: off-shoring and the use of public cloud services
National guidance for health and care organisations who want to use cloud services or data offshoring to store patient information.
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Data Security and Protection Toolkit
An online self-assessment tool that all organisations must use if they have access to NHS patient data and systems.
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Codes of practice for handling information in health and care
What health and care organisations must do to look after information properly, covering confidentiality, information security management and NHS records management.
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Publication scheme
NHS Digital (previously HSCIC) provides national information, data and IT systems for health and care services. We exist to help patients, clinicians, commissioners, analysts and researchers. Our goal is to improve health and social care in England by making better use of technology, data and information. The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) was set up by the Department of Health in April 2013 and is an executive non-departmental public body. Trusted with over £1 billion of Department of Health funding, and an operating budget of £250 million, our team of 2,500 staff works to improve health and care services.
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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.