Health and Social Care Act passes in UK

The UK has recently passed the Health and Social Care Act, raising further awareness of the important of patient data security. The initiative HealthWatch will also champion patient interests at a local and national level across England.

The misuse of sensitive health information can be harmful to patients and the reputations of healthcare providers. Organizations must work to safeguard patient data to preserve individual privacy.

The NHS is under pressure to demonstrate its effectiveness at addressing public concerns, such as the confidentiality of patient records.

“The Health and Social Care Act, and the setting up of HealthWatch, means that patient privacy is becoming a more pressing concern than ever for NHS senior managers," said Kurt Long, CEO and founder of FairWarning. "Health and social care providers who act now have an excellent opportunity to strengthen their reputations with patients, clients and commissioners who will feel confident that high-quality training and safeguards are all in place. They will also be able to meet the growing demands from government, regulators, patient groups and the public to keep electronic records safe."

NHS Scotland has already made strides in protecting patient confidentiality, but much of the NHS in England is ill-equipped to prevent or detect breaches of sensitive data, officials say. But the passing of the Health and Social Care Act means that providers will have to exchange data with more external bodies. Security must remain a top priority for providers in the UK.