Confidentiality means protecting personal information. Professionals should not disclose personal matters about patients or service users unless given permission to do so, or it is absolutely necessary. The guidance to be considered is listed below; please also consult your employer's own workplace policies.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code for nurses, midwives and nursing associates (includes guidance regarding confidentiality and disclosing your NMC PIN)

NHS England (England) - search for 'confidentiality'

Department of Health – ‘Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice’

Northern Ireland - Department of Health guidance on confidentiality

Scotland - NHS Scotland Code of Practice: Protecting Patients Confidentiality

You should also check your employer's own policies for guidance as applicable to your specific workplace.

If a patient or service user lacks mental capacity to consent to disclosure, the health care professional should ensure that an appropriate assessment is made under the following:

• England and Wales: Mental Capacity Act 2005, following the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice and Making decisions: a guide for people who work in health and social care
• Scotland: Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (Scotland); see the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland's guidance The Adults with Incapacity Act in general hospitals and care homes
• Northern Ireland: Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.

Please see the NMC's social media guidance.

You can also read our magazine article Social media: 5 ways it can benefit you (and 5 ways to protect yourself).

Data protection and monitoring at work

Occupational health nursing

Good record keeping