Confidentiality and Anonymity Guidelines, Study notes of Nursing

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School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Practice CONFIDENTIALITY AND ANONYMITY GUIDELINES Revision Date Owner/s Approved by Next review 2.0 Aug 2021 ASL, Academic Programmes LTEC Aug 2022 Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................... 1 What would be considered a breach of confidentiality? .................... 1 Exceptions ................................................................................. 2 Confidentiality and referencing local policies: student guidance ........ 3 Published Local Policy ............................................................... 4 Unpublished Local Policy ........................................................... 4 References ................................................................................ 5 3 • The naming of individuals where the information cited has now entered the public domain, e.g. the name of renowned cases such as the Victoria Climbie Inquiry (Laming 2003), and the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry (2001) would no longer be confidential. It is expected that these sources are referenced. • Acknowledgement of staff who have supported you in your studies (as long as names only are included, not job title or workplace) or family/friends are permitted. • A very small number of courses require learners to use documentation or statistical data which is not freely available. It would not be a breach of confidentiality to refer to this material but only if: the module or course leader can confirm to an Assessment Board that this material is necessary to the assessment and that professional standards have been adhered to (NMC 2018, HCPC 2016). Confidentiality and referencing local policies: student guidance When supporting their work in practice (within your portfolio), it is expected that students are analytical in the application of evidence and support their decisions with appropriate evidence sources. As a consequence, we would expect students to refer to a range of evidence, not just policy that applies to the local practice area. However, students may wish to apply appropriate evidence that is sourced from NHS policy or guidance (both public and confidential), and if this is done in conjunction with information about patients they have treated, we advise that the student does not infer that the policy they refer to is from their practice area. This is because some students may be located in practice areas where the community is very small and the potential for a practice location or individual’s confidentiality being breached is likely. 4 For example, a statement like this would show where the policy was from and therefore imply where the student’s practice area was: “NHS Boards have local policy guidance on the management of oral thrush such as …… (NHS Grampian 2018)”. Published Local Policy If students wish to use local policy that is in the public arena, for example on a website, and would disclose their practice area, they may choose to reference within the text as NHS X (date), NHS Board Y (date) or NHS Trust Z (date) and within the reference list (including X, Y or Z if used) as: NHS TRUST (Name withheld), 2018. Name of document. OR NAME WITHHELD, 2018. Name of document. Unpublished Local Policy If students wish to use local policy that is unpublished i.e. not available in the public area, they may choose to reference as follows: NHS TRUST (Name withheld), 2018. Name of document. Unpublished confidential document. OR NAME WITHHELD, 2018. Name of document. Unpublished confidential document. 5 References BRISTOL ROYAL INFIRMARY INQUIRY, 2001. The Report of the Public Inquiry into children’s heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary 1984-1995. Learning from Bristol. Chaired by Ian Kennedy. London: HMSO. Data Protection Act 2018. c. 12. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DH), 2003. Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice. [online]. London: DH. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/confidentiality-nhs- code-of-practice [Accessed 23 August 2021]. HEALTH AND CARE PROFESSIONS COUNCIL (HCPC), 2016. Standards of conduct, performance and ethics. [online]. London: HCPC. Available from: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-conduct- performance-and-ethics/ [Accessed 23 August 2021]. INFORMATION COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE (ICO), 2018. Guide to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). [online]. Wilmslow: ICO. Available from: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-the-general-data- protection-regulation-gdpr/ [Accessed 23 August 2021]. LAMING REPORT, 2003. The Victoria Climbie Inquiry: report of an inquiry by Lord Laming. London: HMSO. NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL (NMC), 2018. The code: professional standards of practice and behavior for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. [online]. London: NMC. Available from: http://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/ [Accessed 23 August 2021].