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Confidentiality: code of practice for health and social care in Wales
- Authors:
- NHS WALES, WALES. Social Services Inspectorate for Wales, WALES. Welsh Assembly Government
- Publisher:
- NHS Wales
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 50p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
In both the health and social care services in Wales the provision of clear guidance on protecting the confidentiality of patients and service users while allowing the appropriate exchange of information is becoming ever more important. Service provision, service development, and the maintenance of full, clear and accurate records all require that information be shared to a greater or lesser extent. For professionals, the free exchange of information between agencies and individuals is essential if concerns about the welfare of children, young people, and adults of all ages are to be met. Those who use health and social care services are all too aware of the benefits of providing personal information about their needs once only and ensuring that this is available to the professionals and agencies involved in their assessment, treatment programme, and subsequent care planning and service delivery. Finally, optimising the outcomes of service provision requires effective and efficient service commissioning, and this in turn relies on information being exchanged between service providers and agencies. The health and social care services in Wales are therefore entering a new phase in the development and use of information systems and services. Now, the task is to ensure that the new generation of systems and services allow integrated approaches that support patients and service users alike across organisational boundaries and permit secure access for professionals to the information they need. This document will help the NHS and social services authorities to meet current legislative requirements and standards of good practice on both the sharing and the confidentiality of information. It will make a significant contribution to ensuring that trust in the NHS and social care services, and in their ability to handle sensitive information confidentially, is maintained.