The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7198 p673-678
18 May 2002

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Related websites
Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002 (more)

Pharmacists told "reveal patient information or be fined £5,000"

Powers come into force on 1 June allowing the Government to require pharmacists and other health professionals in England and Wales to hand over confidential patient information or face a £5,000 fine.

The Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002 allow the Secretary of State for Health to gather and process confidential information about patients diagnosed with, or being treated for, cancer and any other patient information that could be useful for monitoring communicable diseases and other risks to public health. Information gathered under the Regulations can also be used for research which has been approved by the Secretary of State regardless of whether or not it has been approved by a research ethics committee.

Any implied or contractual obligations of confidence are specifically over-ridden by the regulations, which say that anything done in accordance with them is lawfully done despite any obligations of confidence.