Legislation – Health and Social Care Act 2012
Changes to legislation:
Health and Social Care Act 2012, Section 251B is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 09 April 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 251B:
- Pt. 9 Ch. 1B inserted by 2022 c. 31 s. 96
- s. 105(3A) (3B) inserted by 2013 c. 24 Sch. 14 para. 21
- s. 106(3A) (3B) inserted by 2013 c. 24 Sch. 14 para. 22
- s. 259(1)(aa)(b) substituted for s. 259(1)(b) by 2022 c. 31 s. 98(b)
- s. 259(1)(aa) words substituted by S.I. 2023/98 Sch. para. 17(11)(a)(iii) (This amendment comes in force at the same time as 2022 c. 31, s. 98 comes into force)
- s. 259(10A)(10B) inserted by 2022 c. 31 s. 98(h)
- s. 261(5)(da) inserted by 2026 c. 8 s. 3(2)
- s. 261(5A) inserted by 2026 c. 8 s. 3(3)
- s. 261(6A)(6B) inserted by 2026 c. 8 s. 3(4)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- Pt. 9 Ch. 1B inserted by 2022 c. 31 s. 96
- s. 105(3A) (3B) inserted by 2013 c. 24 Sch. 14 para. 21
- s. 106(3A) (3B) inserted by 2013 c. 24 Sch. 14 para. 22
- s. 259(1)(aa)(b) substituted for s. 259(1)(b) by 2022 c. 31 s. 98(b)
- s. 259(1)(aa) words substituted by S.I. 2023/98 Sch. para. 17(11)(a)(iii) (This amendment comes in force at the same time as 2022 c. 31, s. 98 comes into force)
- s. 259(10A)(10B) inserted by 2022 c. 31 s. 98(h)
- s. 261(5)(da) inserted by 2026 c. 8 s. 3(2)
- s. 261(5A) inserted by 2026 c. 8 s. 3(3)
- s. 261(6A)(6B) inserted by 2026 c. 8 s. 3(4)
PART 9Health and adult social care services: information
F1CHAPTER 1AContinuity of Information
F2251BDuty to share information
(1)
This section applies in relation to information about an individual that is held by a relevant health or adult social care commissioner or provider (“the relevant person”).
(2)
The relevant person must ensure that the information is disclosed to—
(a)
persons working for the relevant person, and
(b)
any other relevant health or adult social care commissioner or provider with whom the relevant person communicates about the individual,
but this is subject to subsections (3) to (6).
(3)
Subsection (2) applies only so far as the relevant person considers that the disclosure is—
(a)
likely to facilitate the provision to the individual of health services or adult social care in England, and
(b)
in the individual’s best interests.
(4)
The relevant person need not comply with subsection (2) if the relevant person reasonably considers that one or more of the following apply—
(a)
the individual objects, or would be likely to object, to the disclosure of the information;
(b)
the information concerns, or is connected with, the provision of health services or adult social care by an anonymous access provider;
(c)
for any other reason the relevant person is not reasonably able, or should not be required, to comply with subsection (2).
(5)
This section does not permit the relevant person to do anything which, but for this section, would be inconsistent with—
(a)
any provision F3of the data protection legislation, or
(b)
a common law duty of care or confidence.
(6)
This section does not require the relevant person to do anything which the relevant person is required to do under a common law duty of care (and, accordingly, any such requirement is to be treated as arising under that common law duty and not under this section).
F4(7)
In this section, “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3 of that Act).