CSU staff seconded to info centre

Around 180 commissioning support unit staff have been seconded into the Health and Social Care Information Centre to deliver the Data Service for Commissioners.

EHI reported in February that nine new data management integration centres, being developed by NHS England, would have to become part of the information centre by April to be able to lawfully process patient identifiable data.

An HSCIC spokesperson confirmed to EHI that around 180 CSU staff have been seconded to the HSCIC for a year to deliver the data service.

“They are seconded for the aspect of their role in the DMIC that involves the processing of personal confidential data. The seconded staff continue to work from their local offices using regional processing centres,” the spokesperson added.

The DMICs were set up by CSUs to provide data validation, integration and storage for clinical commissioning groups, CSUs and local authorities in regard to their public health role.

The latest HSCIC board minutes say that NHS England commissioned the HSCIC to deliver the DMICs for a year from 1 April 2013.

“Information risk owners and information asset owners have been appointed to ensure that appropriate controls are in place regarding the release of data from this service,” the minutes say.

“In particular, personal confidential data will only be passed on to other health organisations if there is a lawful basis for that to happen, for example, where the data is required for direct patient care, or where consent has been gained.”

Commissioner access to Secondary Uses Service data was suspended at the start of April because NHS England did not have the necessary Section 251 exemption to process personal confidential data.

The NHS Information Centre traditionally held this exemption to allow it to send SUS data to primary care trusts. When primary care trusts were axed, there was no longer a legal basis for the flow of information.

NHS England was granted a three-month extension to use the exemption at the end of April allowing CSUs, and a number of named CCGs that are not using CSUs for data processing, to get access to SUS data.

The HSCIC board minutes say it is also assisting NHS England to get  section 251 support for the next 12 months and this was considered by the new Confidentiality Advisory Group on 19 April.

A spokesperson for the CAG told EHI it had made its recommendation to the health secretary and an NHS England spokesperson said the decision was expected to be announced soon.

A letter sent to CCG clinical leads says that the long-term solution is for NHS England to develop strategies that do not require support under the  section 251 regulations.

These will be designed to reflect the findings of Dame Fiona Caldicott’s review of information governance released last month.

The HSCIC minutes add that there are several other organisations that need access to SUS data to support their business needs such as primary care teams working in local authorities.

The information centre is working to, “establish their business requirements, discuss the best way to meet this within the permissions we have in place, and to set up appropriate data sharing agreements or contracts.”