Council Meeting
22 July 2025
Council members in attendance
Dr George Fernie (Chair), Helen Dyer (Vice Chair), Adrian Marchbank, Allison Newell, Dr Chris
Bunch, David Riley, Dr Erum Nomani, Dr Matt Noble, Professor Martin Crook.
Guests
Katie Thorn, Rachel Woodcock.
Observers
Raz Edwards, SIGN, Deborah Topping, Leadership Through Data.
Apologies
Dr Arjun Dhillon, Darren Lloyd, Rhidian Hurle, Surgeon Commodore Jason E Smith, Dr Neil Bhatia.
Secretariat
In the absence of a secretariat staff support, it was agreed that the meeting would be transcribed by Teams to aid Helen Dyer in taking notes and contributing to the meeting. It was determined that the transcription would be deleted one week after the notes were completed.
Declarations
No declarations regarding conflict of interest were made in addition to those previously declared. It has been confirmed through one-on-one sessions with members that all declarations are up to date.
1. Actions
Council reviewed the notes of the 15 May 2025 Council meeting and accepted them as an accurate record.
Council members reviewed the action log. The Chair provided an update on the open actions.
2. Chairman’s update
The Chair provided a summary of meetings of note attended since the last Council meeting. These included Breakfast clubs, stop-and-search, and, of particular value, a 2-day joint DHSC NHSE Governance reform workshop. Further details will be circulated on receipt.
Paper 6a was reviewed, and highlights were identified. Thanks were offered to all members for their commitment and contributions. It was agreed that formal thanks should be minuted for members of the secretariat and all at the NDG office who have supported Council so efficiently over the last 12 months.
Paper 6b, the most recent draft of the UKCGC constitution, was reviewed. Members were invited to submit comments over the next two weeks, particularly relating to quorum, effectiveness, and evaluation.
A discussion resulted in a tentative agreement to trial an online, free-to-attend conference as the UKCGC annual conference in 2026. A recognition of the benefits from face-to-face events resulted in an agreement to explore what other face-to-face events might be created and supported, e.g. the November in-person UKCGC meeting. Further written views were invited from members over the next 2 weeks.
3. Vice-chair’s update
A proposal for all UKCGC members to become breakfast club members was agreed. New topics for planned evening classes were advised. Dates for 2026 are currently being planned.
4. Requests for advice to Council
Since May 15th, there had been 17 requests, six were from members of the public unable to identify Caldicott Guardians.
5. Update from the Digital Care Hub
Katie Thorn presented an overview of the Digital Care Hub and its partners, particularly its activity since 2024, to support the implementation of NDG guidance in adult social care and the Caldicott Guardian Learning Network. A current topic of interest is AI, which has been considered in the context of the Caldicott principles from Data Privacy and confidentiality, informed consent, transparency, bias and fairness and accountability perspectives. Katie shared details relating to involvement with the Oxford Project on the Responsible use of Generative AI in social care and the creation of collaborative, Co-produced AI guidance across 12 domains. More detail can be found at https://www.digitalcarehub.co.uk/AIGuidance, along with the link to a call to action for more support in this space.
6. Update from the Professional Records Standards Body
Rachel Woodcock, associate director for implementation and partnerships at PRSB introduced members to the core business of PRSB as an independent, not for profit CIC typically commissioned to develop information record standards. Members had the opportunity to see an example Information Model and Information standards notices which mandate standards under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Rachel went on to highlight the relationship of PRSB with the use of AI ambient scribes, linking particularly with the PRSB Outpatient Letter Standard. Rachel advised that PRSB also offer a partnership scheme offering support, learning and conformance services to suppliers and providers. Further topics raised in discussion included the summary care record and single patient record, clinical coding, the scope for role standards and the importance of designing systems and processes to mandate data accuracy and quality.
7. Privacy by design and DPIAs
Dr Chris Bunch presented a briefing about how his organisation is reviewing the speed, consistency and efficiency of effective DPIA construction, noting that it is a process and not a document to support privacy by design and the risk to privacy rather than to a project. Discussion drew out further elements of risk appetites, tolerance and accountability, including the appropriate involvement of suppliers. Further comments on a draft format are invited.
8. Next meeting
The next meeting will be held virtually on 24 September 2025 from 13:00-16:00