This information might include details of a service user’s lifestyle, family, health or care needs which they want to be kept private.
Service users expect the health and care professionals who are involved in their care or treatment, or have access to information about them, to protect their confidentiality at all times.
Breaking confidentiality can affect the care or services you provide, as service users will be less likely to provide the information you need to care for them. Doing this may also affect the public’s confidence in all health and care professionals. This information builds on the principles of confidentiality and provides extra guidance about some of the issues which come up about confidentiality. It builds on the expectations of health and care professionals outlined in our standards of conduct, performance and ethics.