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MedConfidential provides a really useful service in unziping the Board papers published by HSCIC. https://medconfidential.org/2014/hscic-board-papers/ Among the Background Papers for Information for the March Board meeting on 31st March is one on Streamlining the Independent Information Governance Advice to the HSCIC: The future of the GP Extraction Service Independent Advisory Group https://medconfidential.org/wp-content/uploads/hscic/2015-03/HSCIC150908b_GP ESIAG_FIpaper_170315v2.pdf In it the GPES IAG is described:- "GP Extraction Service Independent Advisory Group [GPES IAG] The GPES Independent Advisory Group was established in 2012. It is another advisory group set under the auspices of the NHS Information Centre and now operated by the HSCIC. It was established to provide advice to the HSCIC on proposed customer use of the GPES system and in particular to provide oversight/assurance to GPs that data for which they were data controllers was being used in an acceptable manner, delivering benefits for patients whilst protecting patient confidentiality and privacy. There are a number of GPs and retired GPs who are members of this group. Like the DAAG it is an advisory group and not a decision taking body. It does not have a role in GP extractions which do not take place via the GPES system nor a role outside general practitioners to other disciplines or specialists" (this description seems to bear little resemblance to the GPES IAG TOR http://www.hscic.gov.uk/media/9856/GPES-IAG-Terms-of-Reference/pdf/GPES_IAG_ Terms_of_Reference_v1.4.pdf where it is clear that the role is to recommend whether or not the request should 'proceed to extraction' - and as for composition, see the membership in the TOR.) "Current situation The current advisory system appeared confusing for customers, duplicating effort in some places and having gaps in others. HSCIC information governance systems needed to change following the Partridge Review and the Care Act 2014 and the question was how? 1. An internal review of the HSCIC IG Advisory Structures was undertaken by David Evans, senior IG adviser called CAG, DAAG, GPES IAG - now and tomorrow 2. A piece of work led by the Deputy Caldicott Guardian Dr Alan Hasssey and supported by Dawn Foster the HSCIC Head of Information Governance looked at how to make the current DAAG process better in terms of efficiency, effectiveness and customer experience whilst addressing short falls exposed by the Health Select Committee 3. Operational planning work with the DH, HRA and HSCIC began to explore the optimum way of working for HSCIC to receive CAG advice and both processes to avoid duplication, improve efficiency and improve customer experience. The conclusions were that GPES IAG structure and function should be: * . Subsumed into the SCCI structure and process for collections and initial flows and * . Subsumed into the new DAAG structures and processes and this should be consulted upon and * . DAAG should be re-named and * . This should be undertaken openly in full view of the National Data Guardian such that any significant concerns could be made directly known to the HSCIC Board. The proposed process is set out below: 1. To plan that GPES IAG will close on June 30th 2015 2. That the responsibilities of GPES IAG will be transferred to SCCI and the new DAAG 3. That a consultation on the new DAAG will be conducted by Nicholas Oughtibridge ( who will attend GPES IAG meeting as part of that consultation) 4. That the consultation will either be an informal consultation with important stakeholders, a consultation including the public (taking approximately 5 weeks) or a public consultation that will take a minimum of 12 weeks with further time to collate and publish findings 5. The current preference is for a consultation with the public but that this decision needs to be made by the HSCIC Board on 29th April 2015 6. If the decision is for a public consultation then the proposed date of start for new DAAG (July 1st ) will inevitably be later particularly as pre-election restrictions will interfere and that a start date of August 2015 is more likely 7. The SCCI proposal which is currently held by Dave Roberts and Gwen Smith will be a informal consultation including GP stakeholders hopefully resulting in a final proposal that will be accepted by SCCI on 29th April 2015 8. The SCCI proposal is not part of the new DAAG consultation 9. That the SCCI processes are curently being reviewed and the SCCI proposal will be part of that review 10. If the new DAAG is not fully formed on July 1st 2015 then the GPES IAG responsibilities for the dissemination of data by the HSCIC from GP clinical systems will transfer to [old] DAAG in the interim period before new DAAG is formed" I'm not clear whether the decisions of SCCI to approve (or not approve) data collections from general practice patient records can be considered to be in any way "Independent" advice - and if I was still in practice, I certainly would not feel reassured that it SCCI would "provide oversight/assurance to GPs that data for which they were data controllers was being used in an acceptable manner, delivering benefits for patients whilst protecting patient confidentiality and privacy"! Mary Hawking Save the date PHCSG AGM & Annual Conference 15th/16th October 2015