Part of A guide to confidentiality in health and social care: references
Section 5: Professional regulators’ guidance
There are eight organisations known as health and social care regulators which oversee one or more of the health and social care professions by regulating individual professionals across the UK. They are listed below and each has specific links to confidentiality guidance. Whilst they may expect practice over and above what is in this guide, it is not expected that any would contradict the practice within this guide.
General Medical Council (GMC)
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
Nurses and midwives
Content produced by the NMC in relation to confidentiality includes the NMC’s web page on confidential information and sections on confidentiality within The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives.
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists / podiatrists, clinical scientists, dieticians, hearing aid dispensers, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists, prosthetists / orthotists, radiographers, social workers in England and speech and language therapists
Content produced by the HCPC in relation to confidentiality includes the HCPC’s Confidentiality – guidance for registrants.
General Dental Council (GDC)
Dentists, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental nurses, dental technicians, dental therapists, and orthodontic therapists
A guide to confidentiality in health and social care: references Content produced by the GDC in relation to confidentiality includes the GDC’s Principles of Patient Confidentiality.
General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
Chiropractors
Content produced by the GCC in relation to confidentiality includes the sections on confidentiality in the GCC’s Code of Practice and Standard of Proficiency.
General Optical Council (GOC)
Opticians (optometrists and dispensing opticians)
Content produced by the GOC in relation to confidentiality includes the sections on confidentiality in the GOC’s Code of Conduct.
General Osteopathic Council (GOsC)
Osteopaths
Content produced by the GOsC in relation to confidentiality includes the GOsC’s Data Protection and Privacy Policy.
General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises
Content produced by the GPhC in relation to confidentiality includes the Guidance on Patient Confidentiality.
Examples of guidance on confidentiality and information sharing from regulators
Confidentiality is central to trust between doctors and patients. Without assurances about confidentiality, patients may be reluctant to seek medical attention or to give doctors the information they need in order to provide good care….But appropriate information sharing is essential to the efficient provision of safe, effective care, both for the individual patient and for the wider community of patients.
You must respect people’s right to confidentiality …You must ensure people are informed about how and why information is shared by those who will be providing their care. You must disclose information if you believe someone may be at risk of harm, in line with the law of the country in which you are practising.
Service users expect the health and care professionals involved in their care or who have access to information about them to protect their confidentiality at all times. This information might include details of a service user’s lifestyle, family or medical condition which they want to be kept private. Breaking confidentiality can affect the care or services you provide, as service users will be less likely to provide the information you need to care for them. Doing this may also affect the public’s confidence in all health and care professionals.
Last edited: 4 June 2024 3:11 pm