ABSTRACT
Confidentiality is a very common theme mentioned by treating professionals as a major barrier to talking to family carers and also by family members trying to find relevant information about what their loved one needs and how best to offer that much-needed support. Fear about breaching patient confidentiality has frequently created a barrier to effective involvement of carers in mental health care. Home carers have frequently encountered particular difficulties caused by the often dramatic change in approach when a young person legally becomes an adult and they move from 'child and adolescent' to 'adult' services. Some areas concerns about confidentiality, its definition, interpretation and application, seems to outweigh the benefits for patients of co-ordinated support. National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) give lots of information about a wide range of conditions as well as about legal and ethical aspects of confidentiality. Whatever the condition, confidentiality is often mentioned as the most frequent reason for a lack of relevant practical information.
