Contact us.
Our most common queries can usually be answered online
Before contacting us, please take a moment to browse our FAQs and the information on our website, including the further help and guidance section. We have developed these resources to address the most common questions and requests we receive. As a busy service, we greatly appreciate your cooperation with this.
Response timescale
We will acknowledge receipt within 3 working days. As we receive a high volume of queries, we endeavour to provide an initial response within 20 working days from the date of receipt.
Information governance advice
Our primary aim is to guide and assist Caldicott Guardians, whose specific remit is advising their organisations on confidentiality matters and implementing the Caldicott Principles. We do not provide broader information governance advice on matters such as the application of data protection law, information standards, the implementation of IT systems, and organisational information governance policy. In these instances, please seek guidance from within your own organisation or consult a legal professional. Our further help and guidance section also lists some external sources of information governance guidance, such as NHS England’s information governance portal, that could be helpful to you.
Complaints about the handling of your data
If you are a member of the public and have concerns about how your information has been handled, we advise you to get in touch with the organisation directly to discuss your concerns. You can request to speak to its Caldicott Guardian, who should always be accessible to the public.
You may also find our Sources of Support document useful, which outlines the steps you can take if you have a complaint about how your health and care data has been handled.
Complaints about Caldicott Guardians
Accountability for Caldicott Guardians rests with the organisations that they work for. The UKCGC is not a regulatory body and cannot investigate complaints. If you have a complaint about a Caldicott Guardian, or wish to raise a question with or about one, contact their organisation direct. NHS England provides guidance on how to complain about NHS services.
UKCGC disclaimer
Responses are provided as general advisory support to assist consideration of the issues raised. It is not legal advice and should not be treated as directing or requiring any particular course of action. The application of the relevant legal and regulatory requirements will depend on the full facts, the context of the processing or proposed processing, and the governance arrangements of your organisation.
It is intended to identify relevant considerations and possible approaches only. It is not a substitute for advice from your own organisation’s information governance team, data protection officer, legal advisers, or other appropriate decision-makers. Responsibility for any decision taken, and for ensuring compliance with the applicable legal and governance framework, remains with your organisation and its decision-makers.
The UK Caldicott Guardian Council does not accept responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, claim, liability, cost or consequence arising from reliance placed on this response as determinative advice or as the sole basis for action.