Guidance

Patient confidentiality in NHS population screening programmes

Information about what personal information is used by the screening programmes and why. Includes your options, rights and how to find out more.

• From: NHS England
• Published: 1 January 2015
• Last updated: 19 June 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 19 June 2026

     Updated guidance including: • Updated legal basis description • Improved description of invitations and call/recall • Inclusion of additional data types • Clearer articulation of data uses • General clarity and consistency improvements

  2. 10 October 2024

     Added clarification that publication was previously published by Public Health England.

  3. 29 November 2022

     Information updated throughout to reflect the move of responsibilities from Public Health England (PHE) to NHS England.

  4. 30 September 2021

     Updated privacy notice.

  5. 21 June 2021

     Added information about the screening helpdesk.

  6. 16 July 2018

     Added possibility of GPs sharing relevant information with screening services.

  7. 28 June 2018

     New and expanded information to reflect the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

  8. 7 September 2016

     Guidance updated for accuracy and clarity.

  9. 1 June 2016

     Added information about patient confidentiality processes in cancer screening.

  10. 1 January 2015

      First published.

Applies to England

Documents

National population screening programmes: the information we use and why, and your options

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Details

This publication explains how and why population screening programmes collect and process data. It covers:

*Why we use your personal information

*Who is responsible for your personal information

*What information is used to invite people for screening

*Your choices

*Keeping your personal information safe

*Using information to make sure screening is safe and works well

*Using information to learn and improve services

*Testing new computer systems

*Using your information for research

*National health registers

*How long information is kept

*The law and your personal information

*Your rights and getting help