The Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) is an independent body that reviews applications for research purposes and provides expert advice on the use of identifiable patient information.
Through the expertise of its lay and professional members, CAG helps ensure research can proceed in the public interest while maintaining trust and protecting patient confidentiality.
We spoke to Kim Keltie, who joined CAG in February, to find out more about her experiences as a CAG member so far and what she has learnt from the role.
What's your background Kim?
I am the director of a health technology assessment group based at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. My team find and appraise evidence for health technologies to support the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) when they're writing national guidance. My team is trying to evaluate if medical devices, digital and diagnostic technologies, medicines, and interventional procedures work, and if so do they represent value for money. I've worked for the NHS for 16 years, but my background is actually in chemistry.
What inspired you to become a CAG member?
I started in the NHS on a research contract, and since then my role's been really focused on data to find out if health care interventions work, whether they are safe and to find out if we can understand where there is variation in care across the NHS. I think that's why I probably got interested in the CAG role, because what I do on a day-to-day basis is review data, and I really see the value of it in making sure our patients are safe.
But on the other side, it's also making sure that projects using data are in the public's best interest. Are the patients aware of what's going on with their data when they visit a healthcare professional? That communication and that level of trust is so important. Yes, we analyse data, but should we always be doing that? It's trying to find that balance.
Particularly for my role, I'm helping inform national guidance and whether technology should be used in the NHS. When patients come to a hospital, they want to make sure that they are receiving evidence-based care, but also that we're treating their data with the respect it deserves. So, there's an element of trust. I think the CAG sits directly on that line of trying to find the balance between the two.
It was also an opportunity to learn. The legislation that CAG is working to is quite niche and requires specialist knowledge. I thought it was a really great opportunity to see exactly what goes on in that decision-making process.
What do you enjoy about being a CAG member?
I think every single application I've reviewed so far has had its own challenges. They're all completely unique, and it's learning from quite a diverse group of research applicants on one side, but also from the CAG members themselves on the other side. There are some clinical experts, some patient experts, and all of our backgrounds are different. Reading the same application, we all see different viewpoints and ask different questions of the researchers. So, it's an opportunity to learn and to practise.
The group involved, the individual members themselves, are absolutely fascinating. It gives you another level of reassurance that the correct decisions are being made and that appropriate people are helping inform those decisions. It's fantastic to be part of it.
What have you learned from your experiences in CAG meetings so far?
As I'm new to CAG, I've only reviewed a few applications. But so far, the learning has been about the legislation, the detail, and the breadth of the different applications and what they're asking for and trying to navigate that. The training I have received has been great and I’ve been assigned a buddy that I can go to with queries. What I would also say is the Confidentiality Advice Team (CAT) team within the group is absolutely phenomenal. I've had so many questions, and they've always been able to help.
I would say I'm still in training and still learning as I go through, but the entire team have been absolutely phenomenal in helping me get there.
What would you say to someone thinking about becoming a CAG member?
I would definitely recommend it. You're going to see a wide variety of applications. You're going to meet a wide variety of people. With every single application there will be something new to learn, which is incredibly exciting.
If you're the type of person who likes to ask questions to understand a little bit more, this is probably the role for you. Alongside that, you'll gain knowledge of the legislation and all the associated processes. I also think it strengthens you as a researcher too because you're taking on the learning from what you're reviewing and bringing that back into your own role. As I'm based in a hospital, I can advise local groups about what they need to be doing.
Joining as a CAG member gives you an opportunity to learn but also to make a real difference.
Find about more about CAG
Interested in learning more? Find out more about the work our Confidentiality Advisory Group do and meet our other CAG members on our website.
We'll soon be opening recruitment for new members to join CAG. More information will be available on our website. If you have any questions in the meantime, email cag@hra.nhs.uk.