Data pseudonymisation review
Progress on our review into the best way of way of processing a person’s data without revealing their real identity.
Documents
Details
Pseudonymisation is a way of processing a person’s data without revealing their real identity.
The aim is to protect patient confidentiality by reducing the possibility that individuals might be identified from the data held and published by the HSCIC. It protects people while still allowing information to be used for public benefit such as research and improvements to the health service.
The aim of the review is to recommend the best way of doing this while still getting the most benefits for health and social care. Other factors such as cost will also be considered.
The first part of the review started in November 2013. It included interviews, workshops and correspondence with external experts and interested parties as well as with HSCIC officials. Following this a formal Steering Group was set up in April 2014 and held its first meeting on 2 May. The Steering Group will deal with issues identified during the first phase of the review and will give advice to the HSCIC Executive Management Team.
Steering Group members have been chosen from different fields and include patient representatives, data users, data suppliers and members of academic bodies. Staff and managers from the HSCIC and other health and social care bodies are also involved. To support the Steering Group’s work three sub-groups have been set up. These sub-groups are to look at specific areas of the Interim Report and provide evidence based reports to the Steering Group. These reports will then be considered by the Steering Group and if approved recommendations will be put forward to the HSCIC Executive Management Team.
Minutes of future Steering Group meetings will typically be published around six weeks after the event. This is to allow for approval at the following monthly meeting. The Group will meet monthly and will address the questions and issues identified in the interim report and provide recommendations to the HSCIC about its pseudonymisation approach. The HSCIC Executive Management Team will then consider whether to adopt the recommendations.
Further information about the Steering Group, including minutes of the group’s meetings and reports produced by the group will appear on this site. The approved Terms of Reference for each of the three sub-groups will also appear on this site.
For enquiries or to comment on the Review’s work please email pseudoreview@hscic.gov.uk
Last updated 11 January 2016 + show all updates
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New attached minutes for: July August September October
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May 21 minutes added
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HSCIC Pseudonymisation Review Steering Group Minutes 24 April Approved minutes added
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March 2015 minutes added.
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Added 'HSCIC Pseudonymisation Review Steering Group 11 February 2015 Approved minutes'
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First published.