Skip to Primary Navigation

Skip to main content

UK watchdog calls for checks on data safety over use of WhatsApp by NHS staff

NHS staff looking at a phone
Use of WhatsApp among NHS staff is allowed, though with certain guidelines. Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images

Hameed Shuja

2 min read
 Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window/tab) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window/tab) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window/tab) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window/tab)

The proposal comes after mounting concerns about the use of WhatsApp among NHS staff, which has raised data safety issues.

The head of the UK’s data watchdog has raised the prospect of spot checks on NHS staff to make sure they are using WhatsApp safely and are not compromising patients’ data safety.

Information commissioner John Edwards told the Financial Times he recognises that the use of WhatsApp by staff “is

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Get full access, free for a month

Start your 28-day free trial to continue reading and access
all content on GRIP – no payment details required.

Start free trial Sign in

What’s included:

  • Every new article, plus our 5,000+ archive
  • Daily regulatory insight and guidance
  • Exclusive interviews and in-depth analysis
  • Coverage of industry-leading events and conferences
  • All podcasts and videos, featuring industry experts
  • The full set of Rules Navigator tools
  • An ad-free experience