Caldicott Guardian

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A Caldicott Guardian is a senior person within a health or social care organisation responsible for ensuring that personal information about those using its services is used legally, ethically and appropriately, and that confidentiality is maintained.

Our Caldicott Guardian is Dr Emily Rowe.

Caldicott Guardians oversee the upholding of the Caldicott principles to ensure proper handling and preservation of patient information. There are currently eight Caldicott principles.

• Principle 1 – Justify the purpose(s) for using confidential information.
• Principle 2 – Use confidential information only when it is necessary.
• Principle 3 – Use the minimum necessary confidential information.
• Principle 4 – Access to confidential information should be on a strict need-to-know basis.
• Principle 5 – Everyone with access to confidential information should be aware of their responsibilities.
• Principle 6 – Comply with the law.
• Principle 7 – The duty to share information for individual care is as important as the duty to protect patient confidentiality.
• Principle 8 – Inform patients and service users about how their confidential information is used and what choice they have. There should be no surprises.

Further information is available at the UK Caldicott Guardian Council (UKCGC) website.