Data Protection Act 1998

69 Meaning of “health professional”

(1) In this Act “health professional” means any of the following—

(a) a registered medical practitioner,

(b) a registered dentist as defined by section 53(1) of the [1984 c. 24.] Dentists Act 1984,

(c) a registered optician as defined by section 36(1) of the [1989 c. 44.] Opticians Act 1989,

(d) a registered pharmaceutical chemist as defined by section 24(1) of the [1954 c. 61.] Pharmacy Act 1954 or a registered person as defined by Article 2(2) of the [S.I. 1976/1213 (N.I.22).] Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976,

(e) a registered nurse, midwife or health visitor,

(f) a registered osteopath as defined by section 41 of the [1993 c. 21.] Osteopaths Act 1993,

(g) a registered chiropractor as defined by section 43 of the [1994 c. 17.] Chiropractors Act 1994,

(h) any person who is registered as a member of a profession to which the [1960 c. 66.] Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960 for the time being extends,

(i) a clinical psychologist, child psychotherapist or speech therapist,

(j) a music therapist employed by a health service body, and

(k) a scientist employed by such a body as head of a department.

(2) In subsection (1)(a) “registered medical practitioner” includes any person who is provisionally registered under section 15 or 21 of the [1983 c. 54.] Medical Act 1983 and is engaged in such employment as is mentioned in subsection (3) of that section.

(3) In subsection (1) “health service body” means—

(a) a Health Authority established under section 8 of the [1977 c. 49.] National Health Service Act 1977,

(b) a Special Health Authority established under section 11 of that Act,

(c) a Health Board within the meaning of the [1978 c. 29.] National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978,

(d) a Special Health Board within the meaning of that Act,

(e) the managers of a State Hospital provided under section 102 of that Act,

(f) a National Health Service trust first established under section 5 of the [1990 c. 19.] National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 or section 12A of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978,

(g) a Health and Social Services Board established under Article 16 of the [S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I.14).] Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972,

(h) a special health and social services agency established under the [S.I. 1990/247 (N.I.3).] Health and Personal Social Services (Special Agencies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990, or

(i) a Health and Social Services trust established under Article 10 of the [S.I. 1991/194 (N.I.1).] Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.