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Summary Of Caldicott Recommendations

Recommendation 1 : Every dataflow, current or proposed, should be tested against basic principles of good practice. Continuing flows should be re-tested regularly.

Recommendation 2 : A programme of work should be established to reinforce awareness of confidentiality and information security requirements amongst all staff within the NHS.

Recommendation 3 : A senior person, preferably a health professional, should be nominated in each health organisation to act as a guardian,  responsible for safeguarding the confidentiality of patient information.

Recommendation 4 : Clear guidance should be provided for those individuals/bodies responsible for approving uses of patient-identifiable information

Recommendation 5 : Protocols should be developed to protect the exchange of patient-identifiable information between NHS and non-NHS bodies

Recommendation 6 : The identity of those responsible for monitoring the sharing and transfer of information within agreed local protocols should be clearly communicated

Recommendation 7 : An accreditation system which recognises those organisations following good practice with respect to confidentiality should be considered.

Recommendation 8 : The NHS number should replace other identifiers wherever practicable, taking account of the consequences of errors and particular requirements for other specific identifiers

Recommendation 9 : Strict protocols should define who is authorised to gain access to patient identity where the NHS number or other coded identifier is used.

Recommendation 10 : Where particularly sensitive information is transferred , privacy enhancing technologies ( e.g. encrypting identifiers or "patient identifying information") must be explored

Recommendation 11 : Those involved in developing health information systems should ensure that best practice principles are incorporated during the design stage.

Recommendation 12 : Where practicable, the internal structure and administration of databases holding patient-identifiable information should reflect the principles developed in this report.

Recommendation 13 : The NHS number should replace the patient's name on Items of Service Claims made by General Practitioners as soon as practically possible

Recommendation 14 : The design of new systems for the transfer of prescription data should incorporate the principles developed in this report

Recommendation 15 : Future negotiations on pay and conditions for General Practitioners should, where possible, avoid system of payment which require patient identifying details to be transmitted

Recommendation 16 : Consideration should be given to procedures for General Practice claims and payments which do not require patient-identifying information to be transferred, which can then be piloted.

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