The Cabinet Office has announced that Dr Nicola Byrne has been reappointed to the role of national data guardian for health and social care for an additional three years.
She was first appointed to the role in March 2021.
It was established in 2014 as an independent advisor to the government and health and social care system on the use of people’s confidential information across health and adult social care in England.
Byrne will continue to serve in the role, alongside her clinical position as a consultant psychiatrist in the NHS, until 16 March 2027.
Ethics and legality
She said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue my efforts in ensuring the highest ethical as well as legal standards for the use of health and social care data.
“In this constantly evolving policy and regulatory landscape, my team, panel of advisors and I remain dedicated to promoting the safe and appropriate use of data to improve patient care. We are committed to protecting patient confidentiality and choice and ensuring that healthcare data is only used in ways that benefit the public.
“Our ultimate goal is to build public trust in the use of their confidential data, so that it can be used to improve healthcare outcomes for everyone.”
