With the increasing use of information technology to support healthcare services at the point of care, and the continued emphasis on joined-up health service provision, information security in healthcare has never been more important. The public has a right to privacy and expects healthcare professionals to maintain personal health records in a confidential manner. The need for secure handling of personal information is mandated by the Data Protection Act, which has specific requirements concerning the collection, storage and dissemination of data, the common law duty of confidentiality governing the actions of health professionals, and the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice. Confidentiality is a key professional requirement for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, as with other healthcare professions, and the principle is enshrined in the standards issued by the General Pharmaceutical Council.
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