Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) shares and uses the information and intelligence it holds about the safety/quality of care. We do this in order to support improvement in health and social care services across Scotland.
Our statement
We are committed to transparency with service providers about the information we hold about them, and how this is shared, interpreted, and used.
HIS has a number of different functions. For each function, we collect, generate, and use information about the safety/quality of care. This sits within a broader HIS-wide approach for sharing information and using intelligence.
HIS has a professional and ethical duty to share information and use intelligence collaboratively and responsibly. This includes a principle that all information we hold about the safety/quality of care can be shared across all its functions. Where appropriate, we also share intelligence with national partners.
Specific purposes that we use intelligence for are:
- identifying emerging concerns with safety and quality of care, so we can take appropriate action where required.
- informing development of our strategy and work programme.
- enabling situational awareness, to help our colleagues make connections and improve delivery of programmes.
Information shared will be interpreted and used appropriately. This includes providing necessary guidance, for example about the context the information was gathered for.
All information will be processed according to information governance frameworks and data protection legislation.
Any exceptions to information sharing will be explained, documented, and respected – demonstrating that the risks of sharing and not sharing have been considered. We will continue to monitor our approach to ensure we are using intelligence effectively and responsibly.