VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Patients: Privacy

Asked by Gideon AmosLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 3 September 2026UIN 18355

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to issue updated guidance to NHS trusts on protecting patient confidentiality in shared hospital wards, including the use of patient identifiers, bedside information displays and the management of sensitive clinical conversations.

Answered by Department of Health and Social Care

National Health Service organisations are responsible for ensuring that they meet their legal and professional obligations in relation to patient confidentiality and the privacy of patients receiving care. This includes compliance with data protection legislation, the common law duty of confidentiality, and the principles set out in the guidance entitled Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim