Data Protection Act 1998

69Meaning 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.