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The new website referred to in Nick Black's and Mary Payne's
Infopoint should become an increasingly valauable resource for both health
professionals and researchers. However I would like to make a plea at
this early stage that the term "database custodian" is not used, unless it
is more clearly defined (and needed).
Current Legislation (the Data Protection Act 2000) uses the term
"data controller" as the person managerially responsible for access to a
database of personal information. This would also, in most cases, be the
person responsible for its quality.
Current NHS regulation requires that all NHS trusts also appoint a
Caldicott Guardian to ensure and improve the scurity and confidentiality
of such databases.
It would be most useful if the new website contained the names and
details of both the database's Data Controller and its Caldicott Guardian.
What's In A Name?
The new website referred to in Nick Black's and Mary Payne's
Infopoint should become an increasingly valauable resource for both health
professionals and researchers. However I would like to make a plea at
this early stage that the term "database custodian" is not used, unless it
is more clearly defined (and needed).
Current Legislation (the Data Protection Act 2000) uses the term
"data controller" as the person managerially responsible for access to a
database of personal information. This would also, in most cases, be the
person responsible for its quality.
Current NHS regulation requires that all NHS trusts also appoint a
Caldicott Guardian to ensure and improve the scurity and confidentiality
of such databases.
It would be most useful if the new website contained the names and
details of both the database's Data Controller and its Caldicott Guardian.
Competing interests: No competing interests