National Information Governance Structure

Wales Information Governance Board (WIGB)

The Wales Information Governance Board (WIGB) is a high level board providing advice on 'direction' and 'standards' as well as assurance to the Minister of Health and Social Care for Wales. The board provides governance and assurance with regards to work that is undertaken in connection with privacy and data sharing of information across Wales.

This national group make very important contributions to the NHS and Public Services in delivering the correct balance between maintaining confidentiality of personal information and providing safe care. It also provides a greater level of transparency by promoting and governing secure access for citizens to their own personal data, balancing risks and benefits.

The Board is a non-statutory board set up using existing processes already established by the Welsh Government, the Minister for Health and Social Care and NHS Wales. The Information Governance team within Digital Health and Care Wales provides the Secretariat support for WIGB.

NHS Wales Information Governance Management Advisory Group (IGMAG)

The NHS Wales Information Governance Management Advisory Group provides a forum to consider Information Governance requirements within NHS Wales, providing direction and consistency in the way its organisations manage Information Governance.

Some of the key responsibilities of the group are listed below:

• To advise on emerging key issues, particularly those of national significance, relating to the processing, confidentiality, security and sharing of patient and other personal information (e.g. staff) across the NHS in Wales;
• To promote and disseminate good practice;
• To work collaboratively to influence policy and practice contributing to the improvement and information governance throughout the NHS in Wales;
• To jointly consider the local implications of relevant national requirements and, where appropriate, to develop and contribute to the development of procedures for their implementation.

See the IG Fundamentals page for national policies, procedures and guidance developed by IGMAG.

Reporting to the Wales Information Governance Board (WIGB), the Advisory Group consists of lead Information Governance staff representing the key partner organisations of the NHS Wales Information Governance community.

The Advisory Group was established in 2015 providing a replacement for the previous forum Welsh Health Information Governance Network (WHIGNet).

The Health Research Authority and Confidentiality Advisory Group

The Health Research Authority (‘HRA’) was established in 2011 as a Special Health Authority. The purpose of the HRA is to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health research. Its functions comprise of those previously undertaken by the National Research Ethics Service and some of the functions formally undertaken by the National Information Governance Board (NIGB).

The Confidentiality Advisory Group ('CAG') undertakes many of the functions formally undertaken by the Ethics and Confidentiality Committee of the NIGB. The role of CAG is to advise the Health Research Authority (for research applications) and the Secretary of State for Health (for non-research applications) as to whether there is sufficient justification to set aside the duty of confidentiality and permit access to the requested confidential patient information under Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006.

 Health Board, Trust and Special Health Authority (SHA) Contacts