Confidentiality

Cancer Information Service

The CIS contains both identifiable data, in which a patient could be directly identified (by name, address etc.), and potentially identifiable data, for example:

• Tabular data based on small geographic areas (i.e. smaller than a PCT) with cell counts <5 (or rates/percentages derived from cell counts <5)
• Tabular data containing cells with underlying population denominators <1000.

In applying for access to the CIS, users must agree to abide by the UKACR Policy on the Release of Identifiable Patient Information. Each user completes a CIS authorisation form and has it signed by their organisation’s Lead Cancer Clinician/Director of the organisation and the Caldicott Guardian/Regional Director of Public Health. Once authorised, users are provided with a username and password to log in to the CIS. The CIS can only be accessed on computers which are linked to the NHSnet and have the program installed.

It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that identifiable and potentially identifiable data held within the CIS are not made available outside of the CIS. This includes combinations of tabular data that have potential for disclosure by differencing. If a user plans to make any data extracted from the CIS available in a public report, a draft copy must be sent to the WMCIU prior to publication.

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