Caldicott Principles : Introduction

The Caldicott Principles are a set of guidelines in the United Kingdom designed to ensure the protection of patient confidentiality within the healthcare system. Originally developed in 1997 by a committee chaired by Dame Fiona Caldicott, these principles have become a cornerstone in the management of patient information in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and other health and social care organizations.

The essence of the Caldicott Principles is to balance the need to protect patient confidentiality with the necessity of sharing information among healthcare professionals for the provision of effective and safe patient care. These principles are particularly relevant in primary care settings, where clinicians routinely handle sensitive patient data.