The Patient Information Advisory Group was established to provide advice on issues of national significance involving the use of patient information (data) and to oversee arrangements created under Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 (originally enacted under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001). Section 251 permits the common law duty of confidentiality to be set aside in specific circumstances for medical purposes. Its membership is drawn from patient groups, healthcare professionals and regulatory bodies. PIAG meets six times per year.

All papers and applications for Section Section 251 support should be submitted at least a month before the PIAG meeting at which you wish your application to be considered.

Inspection powers and funding of the Information Commissione

Download PIAG response in Portable Document Format

NHS Constitution - PIAG response

PIAG welcomes the NHS Constitution and the emphasis it gives to patient confidentiality, including the requirement on staff to comply with professional codes. PIAG strongly supports the initiative to increase the numbers of NHS patients participating in clinical trials. With respect to the proposed future changes to support medical research in the NHS, PIAG looks forward to working with Departmental colleagues and partner organisations to consider how in future this major change to support research could be appropriately implemented both fairly and lawfully. A full response to the NHS constitution will be given in due course.

PIAG draft guidance: Identifying research participants
Consultation on this draft guidance has now closed: this document is under review, and revised guidance will be issued in due course.

All press enquiries should be directed to the Department of Health Press office rather than to members directly.

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