Information sharing between private health care services and NHS England

It is aimed at patients, service users, health and care professionals and information governance (IG) professionals at private hospitals, hospices, clinics, care homes and dental practices which are run independently of the NHS in England. They may be run by a commercial company, a charity or another non-profit organisation.

It may also be helpful to NHS organisations who have private patient units.

Your organisation may receive information requests from NHS England relating to the patients and service users you have cared for.  NHS England makes these information requests so they can evaluate and improve the quality and safety of care across different healthcare settings.

NHS England will send its information requests to your data protection officer, IG team or other senior members of your organisation, who will involve your Caldicott Guardian as appropriate. As the information is not being provided for individual care, it is unlikely that you will be involved in dealing with these requests.

For more information read the guidance for IG professionals section.