Health and Social Care (National Data Guardian) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages

The Health and Social Care (National Data Guardian) Bill is a private member’s bill that seeks to establish, and make provision for, the National Data Guardian for health and social care, which is responsible for advising and producing guidance on patient data and confidentiality. The bill, introduced by Peter Bone (Conservative MP for Wellingborough), would place the office of the National Data Guardian for health and social care on a statutory footing. The National Data Guardian came about following three reviews: the Report on the Review of Patient-Identifiable Information, the Information Governance Review and the Review of Data Security, Consent and Opt-Outs. A commitment to place the office on a statutory footing was included in the 2017 Conservative Party general election manifesto. The bill extends to England and Wales only. It has thus far received cross-party support.

The bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 5 September 2017, had its second reading on 1 December 2017 and completed its stages in the House of Commons on 6 July 2018. The bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 9 July 2018. It is sponsored by Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen (Conservative) and is due to have its second reading on 26 October 2018.