The provisions for the use of confidential patient information without consent for COVID-19 purposes – known as the general COVID-19 Control of Patient Information (COPI) notice are due to expire on 31 March 2022.
If you are relying on the COPI notice and need to process confidential patient information for COVID-19 purposes after 31 March 2022 you will need to have a long-term lawful basis to do so. This long-term lawful basis is called Regulation 5 support and can be obtained through applying to the Health Research Authority (HRA) Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG).
During September and October 2021, the HRA have been contacting researchers known to be working under the COPI notice, in order to begin steps towards transitioning to Regulation 5 support. If you are working under the COPI notice and have not heard from the HRA please contact cag@hra.nhs.uk. Further details on the transition process can be found on the HRA webpages - COPI notice transition applications - Health Research Authority (hra.nhs.uk)