The NIGB is an independent statutory body established to promote, improve and monitor information governance in health and adult social care.

Information governance is the term used to describe the principles, processes, legal and ethical responsibilities for managing and handling information.  It sets the requirements and standards that the NHS needs to achieve to ensure it fulfils its obligations to ensure that information is handled legally, securely, efficiently and effectively.

The NIGB regards information governance as essential for the lawful and ethical use of patient information both for the benefit of the individual to whom the information relates and for the public good.

The NIGB provides advice on the appropriate use, sharing and protection of patient and service user information. The NIGB also advises on the use of powers under Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 to permit the duty of confidentiality to be set aside, where other legal routes are not available.

The NIGB provides this advice to the Secretary of State for Health, but also advises:

• patients, service users and carers;
• health and social care organisations and practitioners;
• researchers and others seeking to use patient and service user information.