Ethics and Cofidentiality Committee (ECC)

• BPSU studies are approved on the basis that there is no patient contact and consent is not sought.  An understanding of the reasons for this are laid out in the document Understanding data confidentiality & security within a BPSU surveillance systudy.

• BPSU studies are required to collect minimal identifier information in order to discount duplication.  In order to do so BPSU studies need to comply with Section 251 of the Health and Social Care Bill 2008 (HSCB-2008).

• In order to comply they need to receive approval from the National Governance Information Board-Ethics and Confdidentiality Committee (ECC), formerly PIAG. For further details click here.

• From July 2005 all BPSU studies therefore have to complete a PIAG application to obtain Section 60 support. This has recently been supplanted by Section 251 of the HSCB-2008). It is now possible to submit for Section 215 excemption via the on-line IRAS system whilst preparing your ethics approval submission. However, The application arrangements th BPSU had with PIAG are still in place and documentation is identified below.

• To make the application procedure easier the BPSU has produced templates which include suggested text to be used.

• We suggest you download the applications, guidance and templates and read carefully before completion.

• ECC-PIAG application form Section 1
• ECC-PIAG application form Section 2
• ECC-PIAG Guidance on the application forms
• ECC-PIAG user involvement guide
• BSPU/ECC-PIAG application form template (Sections 1 and 2)
• BPSU/ECC-PIAG template - System Level Security Policy (SLSP)

• Specific advice regarding the ECC application procedure is available from the BPSU office.

• We suggest you send the completed forms to the BPSU before submission for comment.

• Approved applications are placed on the Section 251 Register.

• Approved applications are reviewed/renewed annually.