Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

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Information Governance

Information Governance contains the set of standards that the NHS must follow to make sure that it carries out its duty to maintain full and accurate records of the care provided and keep those records confidential, secure and accurate.

What is Information Governance?

 The NHS Care Record Guarantee explains the NHS commitment in England to only use your records in ways that respect your rights and promote your health and wellbeing. 

Information Governance contains the set of standards that the NHS must follow to make sure that it carries out its duty to:

  • Maintain full and accurate records of the care provided to you, and
  • Keep records about you confidential, secure and accurate.

Information Governance is a framework or umbrella term. It informs the NHS and its partner organisations of the processes and procedures that it must have to ensure:

  • Your confidentiality is respected
  • Your records are held in secure conditions and
  • Information about you is recorded clearly and accurately, so that it can be easily read and relied upon by others providing you with care.  

NHS information governance - guidance on legal and professional obligations

Published: 17 October 2007

Guidance on the range of legal and professional obligations that affect the management,use and disclosure of primarily NHS information, but also includes some social care requirements.

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