Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007: guidance for General Practice

Information Sharing: Legalities and Cooperation

Duty to Co-operate

A number of bodies have a duty to co-operate under the Act (Section 5), e.g. Health Boards and Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Police and councils. Any information received in the course of an inquiry is treated with the utmost confidence and will not be disclosed to any third parties other than in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

(Section 5) applies directly to GPs and staff directly employed by Health Boards. The Code of Practice outlines a further number of service providers who contribute to the protection of adults at risk and this would apply to General Practice. As per Section 5 of the Act, GPs who are employed by Health Boards have unequivocal responsibilities to cooperate with the council undertaking ASP inquiries; to notify the council of an adult who may be at risk of harm; and to cooperate with others named in Section 5.