New information sharing plan "could save lives"

Friday 15 May 2015

Proposed regulations to make it easier for States departments to share information could lead to more Islanders being screened for cancer.

The changes would allow the States' central register of names and addresses to be used to boost the take-up of screening with the aim of reducing the impact of cervical, breast and bowel cancer.

At the moment, one to two women die of cervical cancer every year and 20 people die from bowel cancer. Breast screening detects cancers that are 50% smaller than those found in women who have not been screened.

The new regulations would enable health staff to use the central register to invite everyone who is eligible to take part in cancer screening programmes,

They would also allow a comparison between the electoral register and the central register of names and addresses, to see if voter registration can be made easier and kept up to date better.

The central register, which is the responsibility of the Chief Minister, is already linked to the Social Security Department’s benefit and contribution IT system, and is used by the Population Office to manage people’s access to work and housing. In time, more departments will be linked together, as the central register continues to develop and improve as a tool for the whole of government.

Health Minister Andrew Green said: “As a Council of Ministers, we have prioritised health and well-being and more efficient government – this initiative supports these priorities. It is tremendously important that all of government works together to help Islanders stay healthy. This is big step in the right direction, enabling us to offer even better health services to the people of Jersey.”

Information Commissioner Emma Martins was consulted in the development of these regulations and is content with their compliance with the law.

"These proposals are – in Data Protection terms – appropriate, and we consider them to have the right safeguards in place," she said. "This office did not hold back from criticising the initial proposals for an island population register when they were drafted several years ago when we felt there were significant improvements necessary. The end result was one that does not compromise Data Protection standards and delivers what the government wants to do.

"These proposals to allow the Health department to access that register of names and addresses are responsibly framed, and that shows that Data Protection legislation is not a barrier to data sharing and innovation when it is done responsibly and in line with statutory obligations."

The central register contains:
• Name
• Address
• Date and place of birth
• Date of arrival in Jersey (if not Jersey born)
• Gender
• Social Security number