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Harry Cayton,Chair, National Information Governance Board

NIGB

Information governance describes the structures, policies and practices which are used to ensure the confidentiality and security of records of patients and service users.

Correctly developed and implemented it enables the appropriate and ethical use of information for the benefit of individuals and the public good.

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NIGB

The role of the NIGB

• To support improvements in information governance in health and social care

• To set standards and provide advice and guidance on information governance

• To advise on the use of powers under section 251 of the NHS Act 2006

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NIGBPrimary Principles

• People have personal interests and responsibilities• Informed consent and autonomy underpin healthcare• It is in people’s interests to have safe accessible

care, a sound research base, cost effective well managed services

• Professionals must work within legal and professional frameworks

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NIGBThe Care Record Guarantees

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NIGBPublic trust is essential• Open selection of public members of the board• Published principles of decision making• Transparency of business; all papers and minutes

published• Regular meetings with patient and professional

organisations• Formal public consultations on guidance• Annual report to Secretary of State published

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NIGB Dealing with wicked questions

• NIGB regularly has to deal with complex ethical and practical issues

• Sometimes its own principles are in conflict• No right or wrong answer – just the best answer we

can think of• Advice must be practicable; advice you can’t put into

practice is no advice at all.

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NIGBExamples of NIGB advice and guidance

• Information governance during the swine flu pandemic

• Care records for children and young people

• Access to clinical information by social workers

• Amendments and corrections to records

• The use of other organisations to support collaborative care

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NIGBThe NIGB Ethics and Confidentiality

Committee

• Administers applications from researchers for support to use identifiable patient data without consent under section 251 of the NHS Act 2006

• Provides a legal basis for the use of information in medical research and other NHS activities without consent

• Advises on best practice in relation to consent for research

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