Public Health: Disclosure of Information

(asked on 6th July 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the control of patient information notices published by the Department of Health and Social Care covers the release of patient identifiable information to local public health teams; and if so, whether any policy prevents local Directors of Public Health from receiving such information.


Answered by
Lord Bethell Portrait
Lord Bethell
This question was answered on 27th July 2020

It is of vital importance that the health and care sector is able to access the data it needs to respond to COVID-19. A Control of Patient Information Notice was issued to require a range of organisations to share and process data for COVID-19 purposes. This should include sharing data with public health teams responding to COVID-19.

The Notice only applies to data processed for COVID-19 purposes and organisations must also meet other regulatory and legal requirements such as the General Data Protection Regulation.

Public Health England is making available to all local authorities information on positive tests

for COVID-19. Public Health England also routinely shares personal data with local authorities to manage and control local clusters and outbreaks of certain infectious diseases.

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