Data Protection Registrar worried about health records
01 January 1991
Data Protection Registrar worried about health records
bacdoc September=1991
The confidentiality of sensitive information about patients'
health, flowing around the computer systems in the NHS, is of
particular concern to the Data Protection Registrar, Mr. Eric
Howe CBE. In his Seventh Report to Parliament, published today
(Wednesday 17 July 1991) he states "Questions arise as to who
will have access to health information; and whether those who are
concerned with administration, rather than clinical care, will
be able to identify individuals and all their health details.
There are difficult issues involved and my staff are currently
considering the use of what is called a `contract minimum data
set'."
Mr Howe said "The Department of Health has not supported a
statutory strengthening of the Data Protection Principles in
respect of medical confidentiality. Instead the Department is
working on draft non-statutory guidance. I look forward to being
consulted on this new guidance. My staff are already
contributing to a Council of Europe working party, which is
considering appropriate safeguards for personal health
information."
Police records
Another issue mentioned in the report involves the holding of
policing data and criminal records. Mr Howe welcomed the close
cooperation between his staff and the Association of Chief Police
Officers Working Group on Data Protection.
Turning to the National Criminal Records System, he said "I have
expressed support for a publicly accountable National Criminal
Records Agency and a system of statutorily regulated disclosures.
I am particularly concerned to see safeguards for individuals and
a resolution to the current and increasing practice of
individuals being forced, by employers and others, to use their
own rights under the Data Protection Act to open up access to
these records."
Complaints from the public
The Report also shows that complaints to the Registrar's Office,
during the year ended 31 May 1991, totalled 2,419. Consumer
credit accounted for 31 per cent of complaints, with unsolicited
mail attracting around the same number. Problems associated with
seeing one's own computer file attracted a further 9.5 per cent
of complaints. "There has been a recognisable shift this year
towards more complex complaints, which require greater effort to
resolve," Mr Howe commented. "It may be that data users are now
more readily settling the routine complaints without individuals
having to resort to my Office."
Seventh Report of the Data Protection Registrar, HMSO HC553.
Price: ¼ll.40.
17 July 1991