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Data protection

  • Last modified date:
    30 October 2008

Data  Protection Act 1998

The Department of Health's data protection policy

We regard the lawful and correct treatment of personal information by the Department of Health as an important element of our business and maintaining the confidence of those with whom we deal.  We ensure that our organisation treats personal information lawfully and correctly.

Therefore the Department of Health will fully endorse and will, through appropriate management, strict application of criteria and controls, adhere to the 8 Principles of Data Protection as described in the Data Protection Act 1998. The Information Commissioner's guidance provides further details about the data protection principles.

The Department of Health will also ensure that:

  • there is someone with specific responsibility for Data Protection in the organisation.  Currently the nominated person is the Data Protection Manager.
  • everyone managing and handling personal information understands that they are contractually responsible for following good data protection practice, is appropriately trained to do so and is appropriately supervised;
  • anybody wanting to make enquiries about handling personal information knows what to do and these are promptly and courteously dealt with;
  • methods of handling personal information are clearly described, a regular review and audit is made of the way personal information is managed; and methods of handling personal information are regularly assessed and evaluated;

Approved by
HUGH TAYLOR
Director of Strategy & Business Development Group & DH Management
Board Member
21 November 2003

How to make a subject access request

The Data Protection Act allows you to find out what information we hold about you on computer and in some paper records. This is known as the 'right of subject access'.  We have provided a sample request letter with a further information form that should also be completed.  All requests for access to your personal data, held by the Department of Health, should be made in writing to:
The Data Protection Manager
Department of Health
Room 363C Skipton House
80 London Road
London SE1 6LH

Statistics on Subject Access Requests for 2007

  • Number of requests received: 60
  • Completed within 40 days:   58
  • Completed beyond 40 days: 2

     

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