Dr Nicola Byrne - National Data Guardian for Health and Social Care

Dr Nicola Byrne was appointed National Data Guardian for Health and Social Care in England in March 2021.

She has a 20-year background working in mental health, and retains her clinical role as a consultant psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Prior to becoming National Data Guardian, she held positions as the trust’s deputy medical director, Caldicott Guardian and chief clinical information officer.

The National Data Guardian helps to ensure that personal confidential data is held and used to support better outcomes from health and care services, at the same time providing confidence that there are thorough safeguards in place to protect personal confidential data