Information Governance

Information Governance or IG, is the overall strategy for information within an organisation. It’s a way of managing information in a safe and effective manner to support business goals and comply with laws and regulations.

The legal framework governing the use of personal confidential data in health care is complex. It includes the NHS Act 2006, the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the Data Protection Act, and the Human Rights Act.

IG involves various disciplines, such as data protection, records management, information security, and information quality, that work together to create policies, procedures, and controls for information use and sharing.

IG can help organizations reduce risks, such as data breaches, legal disputes, and reputational damage, as well as increase value, such as operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and innovation.

IG is especially important for health and care organizations, which handle sensitive and confidential information about patients, staff, and services, and need to balance privacy and transparency.