Issue - meetings

Gary Walsh, Information Governance and Quality Manager, submitted a proposal for the Health and Wellbeing Board to accept ownership of an Information Sharing Protocol.  It was intended that the Protocol would be used by all agencies within the Health and Wellbeing Board. 

The Overarching Information Sharing Protocol (OSIP) was a multi-agency protocol and used by many organisations within Rotherham as evidence and compliance to Information Sharing best practice.  The previous OSIP was owned by the Rotherham Information Governance Group but, following recent organisational changes, no longer met.

The OISP was part of a 3 tier model enabling partner organisations to utilise well established appropriate and transparent information sharing systems (either manual or electronic).  Processes placed the Service user at the centre of how their information was processed in accordance with their rights to privacy and confidentiality.  It was a statement of the principles and assurances that governed information sharing.

The protocol must not be seen as a legal document that allowed all information to be shared between organisations.  All information sharing must be undertaken in accordance with the Data Protection Act, Human Rights Act, common law duty of confidentiality and any other specific statute that authorised or restricted disclosure.

Discussion ensued and the following issues were raised: -

·        Was the proposed protocol compatible with professional information sharing codes for GPs, Social Workers and other professions?  In particular, GPs/Doctors had specific guidelines around sharing of notifiable diseases.

·        Need to ensure that all Partner Boards had the opportunity to comment and agree the Protocol.

Resolved:- (1)  That the report be received and its content noted. 

(2)  That further work be undertaken on the proposed Protocol in relation to ensuring it was compatible with professional guidelines. 

(3)  That Partner Representatives present the revised Protocol to their Boards for comment and agreement. 

(4)  That the revised Protocol be presented to a future meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board.