Applying Caldicott in Everyday Dental Practice

The Caldicott principles translate information governance into routine decisions: should this be mentioned at reception, does this attachment need sending, can this relative be told, does the trainee need access, should the dentist be updated before the patient leaves, and who will check the request?

Dental nurses can spot friction points in the patient journey such as the waiting room, open reception desk, shared computer, printer, scanner, decontamination area, lab bag, referral inbox, phone calls, handover notes, or informal conversations. A brief, timely prompt can prevent both unnecessary disclosure and missed sharing.

A practical Caldicott pause

• Purpose: why are we using this information?
• Patient: would the patient reasonably expect this?
• Minimum: are we using only what is needed?
• People: who needs to know, and who does not?
• Process: is this the approved secure route?
• Problem: if unsure, who should we ask?

Report near misses or problems instead of working around them. Practices that learn from small issues reduce the risk of a serious breach. Dental nurses can help by providing factual examples, proposing practical fixes, and supporting colleagues who need guidance.

When to involve a senior lead

A Caldicott pause turns uncertainty into a professional process: purpose, patient, minimum, people, process, and problem escalation.