ABSTRACT

Non-NHS agencies might be contracted to carry out specific tasks, like cleaning, removal of clinical waste, maintenance of computer systems, and building work. It is the responsibility of the practice to ensure that everybody employed by the practice understands the need for confidentiality, and maintains it. To ensure that systems and mechanisms are in place to protect confidentiality and to ensure that contracts with non-NHS agencies/individuals specify appropriate confidentiality and security requirements of the standard as is expected for best practice in NHS organisations, especially in terms of patient confidentiality. It is important that these non-NHS agencies either have a clause in the contracts or sign a separate confidentiality undertaking. The contractor ensures that he/she, all his/her employees and those of the subcontractor will treat all information which may be derived from or be obtained in the course of the work performed for the contract or as a result of it as strictly confidential.