The National Programme for IT (NPfIT) has appointed the head of its digital information policy team, Phil Walker, as its Caldicott guardian. He will take responsibility for all data protection and information processing advice. A spokesperson for the national programme confirmed to EHI: “The main focus of his work will be NPfIT, but drawing a distinction between NPfIT and broader information processing issues will rarely be necessary or desirable." The national programme’s announcement on Walker’s appointment said: “With his appointment, the National Programme will be in a position to provide authoritative advice to the NHS on confidentiality and related data protection issues." Walker, who was appointed at the beginning of the month, will be supported in his work by policy and implementation teams. According to NPfIT, his role “relates primarily to the secure and confidential processing of identifiable patient data. Combining this role with that of the NPfIT’s head of digital information policy, it creates the opportunity to provide a ‘one stop shop’." A message on the NPfIT website says requests for policy and practical confidentiality and data protection advice should be routed through the Caldicott Guardian mailbox caldicott.guardian@npfit.nhs.uk.
