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16th January 2006 -
Confidentiality and QoF Practices are
reminded that it is the Contractor's decision as to whether
disclosure of patient-identifiable information to the PCT is
appropriate. The link above
details relevant sections of DoH and NHS guidance on
Confidentiality to enable practices to determine whether
they should allow disclosure of patient-identifiable
information for QoF reviews. If practices have
the Apollo software and are confident that the
software adequately anonymises data then they should have no
concerns allowing PCT access to appropriately anonymised
patient information for their QoF review. If this is not the
case then Section 16 of the NHS Code of Confidentiality
says:
"Where the purpose (of disclosing patient identifiable
information) is not directly concerned with the healthcare
of a patient however, it would be wrong to assume consent.
Additional efforts to gain consent are required or
alternative approaches that do not rely on identifiable
information will need to be developed."
The purpose of the
QoF review is clearly not related to the healthcare of the
patient, and consent CAN be obtained for the purpose of the
QoF review by contacting patients and recording express
consent in the same manner as last year.
It is your LMC's
view that since the guidance contained within the DoH
Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information Code of
Practice clearly makes reference to the NHS Code of
Confidentiality, then practices should take particular
notice of Section 16 of the NHS Code of Confidentiality. |
