Dame Fiona Caldicott
GGI Good Governance Award 2019
In 2019 GGI honoured Dame Fiona Caldicott with its annual Good Governance Award in recognition of her services to data and information governance.
Dame Fiona, who sadly passed away this year, was the UK’s first statutory National Data Guardian for health and social care. Following her appointment in 2014, she helped to encourage public trust in the protection and appropriate usage of personal confidential data, specifically health and care information.
She chaired the National Information Governance Board (NIGB) for Health and Social Care (2011 to 2013), which was responsible for a range of advisory functions relating to information governance such as ensuring the confidentiality of patient information. She also led an independent review of information governance from 2012 to 2013. And, as chair of the Caldicott Committee which focused on patient identifiable data in the NHS, she spearheaded the creation of ‘Caldicott Guardians’ in all provider organisation in the NHS.
After working initially in general practice, Dame Fiona became a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, holding various senior clinical and teaching posts. She became the first woman president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists from 1993 to 1996 and was chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges from 1995 to 1996. She was Principal of Somerville College, Oxford, from 1996 to 2010 while also serving as Pro Vice-Chancellor, Personnel and Equal Opportunities, of the University of Oxford and chairing its personnel committee.
On top of her many professional accomplishments, Dame Fiona was very highly regarded by those who knew and worked with her. In a moving tribute on behalf of the National Data Guardian team following her death last month, John Carvel wrote: “She led us with unswerving integrity, modesty and a commitment to doing her best for patients and service users. Her name is well known across our sector and beyond, but we had the added privilege of knowing her personally and holding dear the thoughtful, compassionate person behind the public profile.”
