Confidentiality: disclosing information about serious communicable diseases

This guidance gives advice about accessing, using and disclosing information about the infection status of people who have serious communicable diseases, like HIV or tuberculosis.

It has advice on:

• talking to patients about the risk of transmission
• what to do if a healthcare colleague suffers a needlestick injury
• disease control and surveillance
• what to record on death certificates.

It explores the circumstances in which disclosure without consent may be necessary, helping you to balance the risk of harm to others against the patient’s right to confidentiality. 

This guidance came into effect 25 April 2017.