Dr. George Fernie announced as new UK Caldicott Guardian Council chair

The National Data Guardian announces Dr George Fernie's appointment as the new chair of the UK Caldicott Guardian Council, the national body for Caldicott Guardians.

Following a formal appointment process, the National Data Guardian, Dr. Nicola Byrne has announced Dr. George Fernie as the new chair of the UK Caldicott Guardian Council (UKCGC), the national body for Caldicott Guardians in the UK.

Dr. Fernie steps into the role with a wealth of expertise, having previously served as UKCGC’s vice-chair, where he consistently demonstrated his commitment to promoting high standards in information governance and data confidentiality amongst Caldicott Guardians.

Dr. Fernie brings extensive experience to the position. As a senior medical reviewer at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, he leads the Death Certification Reviewer Service. His career highlights include 17 years as a medicolegal adviser with the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland and the Medical Protection Society. He was also a founding member of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, serving as its inaugural registrar and later as its third president. In addition, Dr. Fernie was pivotal in the transfer of forensic healthcare to the NHS in Scotland, as the national clinical adviser to the joint network board.

I am honoured to take on the role of chair. My foremost priority is to ensure that Caldicott Guardians across the UK are equipped with the guidance and support they need to uphold the Caldicott Principles – safeguarding patient confidentiality and reinforcing trust in our healthcare system. Working alongside the National Data Guardian and the Council, I am committed to ensuring that people’s data is handled with care and integrity all across health and social care. I aim to empower Caldicott Guardians to make informed, ethical decisions that serve patients and the public.

Commenting on the appointment, National Data Guardian Dr. Nicola Byrne said: