Prior to 2015, research applicants requesting access to NHS Scotland data had to engage with a number of information governance and ethics authorities.
From May 2015, a single application scrutiny process has been provided by the NHS Scotland Public Benefit and Privacy Panel for Health and Social Care (HSC-PBPP).
This means a research applicant has to complete one application and access one point of contact (the Public Health Scotland (PHS) electronic Data Research and Innovation Service (eDRIS) to help develop their application and bring together the necessary authorisations, permissions and certifications to be in position to access NHS Scotland national data.
The HSC-PBPP need to balance public benefit with potential risk to privacy and ensure that the public interest will be furthered by the proposal, detailed in an application, and demonstrate that the social need for the processing of the data requested will result in a reasonable likelihood that it will result in a tangible benefit for society.
The HSC-PBPP benefits from the knowledge and expertise of a range of representatives from across Scotland and includes:-
- Public representatives.
- NHSS Board Senior Representatives.
- NHSS Board, NHS National Services Scotland (NHSNSS), Public health Scotland (PHS), Caldicott Guardians.
- NHS Scotland Information Governance (IG) practitioners.
- Research community and research council representative.
- IG/Informatics Data Linkage Specialist.
- Community Health Index Advisory Group (CHIAG) representatives
- National Records of Scotland (NRS) representatives.
- Scottish Government IG lead.
- IT Security Officer will be sought where needed
and is supported by a small team to manage the panel function.
Full details of how we use your information, and how we maintain your right to privacy, can be found on the Public Health Scotland Privacy and Cookies page