Data protection information for care providers
Information on processing and sharing confidential information, how all care providers can access NHSmail and temporary changes to Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) during the coronavirus outbreak.
Using NHSmail secure email
If your organisation accessed NHSmail as part of the national offer to all care providers at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, you now need to complete the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) retrospectively as this was previously waived.
If you have NHSmail but are not yet confident using it, Digital Social Care have published a NHSmail user guide for care providers which includes practical advice on how to use NHSmail such as using your organisation’s shared mailbox and adding NHSmail accounts to Outlook.
If you have any other queries that are not answered in the guidance above, you can contact the Leicestershire Health Informatics Service for help at CareHomeITAdmin@leics-his.nhs.uk.
New information sharing guidance
Digital Social Care have published guidance on information sharing and information governance to support providers during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Processing and sharing confidential patient information for a COVID-19 purpose
To support research, protect public health, provide healthcare services and manage the COVID-19 outbreak, the Department of Health and Social Care have asked for confidential patient information to be processed by Leicester City Council under the Health Service Control of Patient Information Regulations 2002 (COPI).
Under this notice, data should be processed for a ‘COVID-19’ purpose, which can include:
- Understanding COVID-19 and risks to public health
- Identifying people with or at risk of COVID-19
- Monitoring and managing the response to COVID-19 by health and social care bodies
The notice provides a more detailed list of examples. It will expire on or before the 30 September 2020 unless extended.