In April 2018, the Data Security and Protection (DSP) Toolkit replaced the previous Information Governance (IG) Toolkit that community pharmacies are required to complete annually to prove that they are compliant with IG requirements.

The DSP Toolkit is an online self- assessment tool which demonstrates compliance with the National Data Guardian’s ten data security standards. All organisations, including community pharmacies, with access to NHS patient information must use the DSP Toolkit to demonstrate that they are practising good information governance on an annual basis.

Within the DSP Toolkit is a new Data Security and Protection Incident Reporting Tool for data security and protection incidents. This has been developed to reflect the reporting requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into place on 25 May 2018; it replaces the SIRI reporting tool which was part of the previous IG toolkit.

Community pharmacies are required to register on the NHS Digital website to access the DSP Toolkit.

Further information about the DSP Toolkit can be found on the NHS Digital website. The NPA will provide further guidance over the coming months to help support members undertake the DSP assessment.

For further information on this or any other query, please contact the NPA Pharmacy team on 01727 891 800 or email pharmacyservices@npa.co.uk.