Part of Proxy access: advice and guidance
Step 6: Understand if anyone else should have proxy access to the patient’s record
At the point at which awareness of proxy access is raised, staff must ask the proxy and the patient if there is anyone else who should have access or may apply for it.
At this point, clinical professionals and staff may identify further safeguarding concerns by virtue of a prospective proxy noting that someone should not have access to a patient’s information. For example, this could be a form of parental alienation (CAFCASS) or could reveal that someone in the patient’s life is a perpetrator of abuse. Relevant safeguarding concerns should be recorded in the patient’s medical record and appropriate safeguarding action taken.
Consideration of who else should have proxy access is particularly complex in relation to parents and children. Staff and clinical professionals can use the table in Appendix 1 as a reference to this end.
If clinical professionals and staff have identified concerns that may prevent safe proxy access, they should follow their organisation's safeguarding policies to protect the patient. They must not proceed any further with considering proxy access.
Last edited: 6 May 2026 4:36 pm