PHIN to collate patient mortality data

The Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN)) has permission from the Department of Health to collate information about patient mortality between private and NHS hospitals. Working with statistical information from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) the exercise will look at figures of patients treated in private hospitals who are then re-admitted to NHS ones. The information termed Section 251 information references Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 which re-enacted Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001. The terms Section 60 and Section 251, when used in relation to use of patient information, therefore refer to the same powers. These powers allow the Secretary of State for Health to make regulations to set aside the common law duty of confidentiality for medical purposes where it is not possible to use anonymised information and where seeking individual consent is not practicable. Matt James, chief executive of PHIN says there should be some meaningful information by September and if so it is hoped that the collation of such information will become a regular exercise from next year. It could also be the case that patient permission forms could include a request for such information to be cross referenced.