Appointments to the Confidentiality Advisory Group

Last updated on 16 Feb 2016

The Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) is looking to appoint new members to help it deliver its existing and future functions.

The CAG provides the Health Research Authority (HRA) and the Secretary of State for Health (SofS) with independent expert advice about applications for access to confidential patient information. The work of the Group is challenging, but it is also immensely rewarding.

The key purpose of the CAG is to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public whilst at the same time facilitating appropriate use of confidential patient information for purposes beyond direct patient care. Sometimes essential activities of the NHS and important medical research require the use of identifiable patient information where it is not always practical to obtain consent. In these circumstances applicants seek approval from HRA (for research purposes) or SofS (for other purposes) by applying to CAG who provide independent advice to HRA and SofS on these applications. The CAG has also been provided with new responsibilities to advise the Health and Social Care Information Centre on aspects related to its dissemination function.

As one of the CAG’s voluntary members, you will robustly assess applications to advise whether the activity is in the public interest, if it fulfills a medical purpose, and if consent can be obtained from those whose data has been requested.

We are keen to recruit a diverse set of members from a variety of backgrounds. You could be a member of the public, a patient representative, a member of a consumer group, a healthcare professional, or a member of a professional regulatory body or an academic/research institution.

The HRA is responsible for approving research activities under the Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002. SofS provides the approval decision for all other relevant activities. These approval decisions are supported by advice provided by the Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG).

For more information on the role of CAG, please see the committees and services section of our website.

The information pack contains full details on the role, how to apply, the application form and equality monitoring.

Interviews will take place on Tuesday 15, Friday 18 and Monday 21 March 2016

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