Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023

Sharing information

32. (1) Where, in the opinion of the Authority, chief inspector or the Commission, having had regard to—

(a) the information, specified in section 27 (3), 28 (3) or as the case may be section 29 (3), provided in respect of the notifiable incident, additional Part 4 information and further Part 4 information provided under section 31 ,

(b) the issues arising from that information in relation to the safety of patients, and

(c) the functions of a relevant body including functions relating to the provision, or regulation, of a health service or the regulation of a health practitioner,

it is necessary for the purposes of the safety of patients that such information be shared with one or more relevant bodies for the performance by any such relevant body of its functions, the Authority, the chief inspector or the Commission may share information (including additional Part 4 information and further Part 4 information referred to in paragraph (a)) provided to it, or as the case may be, to him or her under, and in accordance with, this Part with any such relevant body.

(2) A relevant body shall use any information provided to it under this section solely for the purpose of the performance by it of its functions.

(3) In this section—

“Act of 1962” means the Coroners Act 1962 ;

“relevant body” means all or any of the following:

(a) the coroner (within the meaning of the Act of 1962) for the coroner’s district (within the meaning of the Act of 1962) in which a notifiable incident has occurred;

(b) the Health Products Regulatory Authority;

(c) the Health and Safety Authority;

(d) the Child and Family Agency;

(e) a body established by or under any enactment (other than the Companies Act 2014 ) whose functions include the regulation of any matter relating to a health service or the regulation of a health practitioner.