PUBLIC health bosses have responded to accusations of "secrecy" in the way they handle infectious disease cases, including meningitis.

East Lancashire Health Authority has published a statement of good practice surrounding the release of patient information.

It comes after health watchdogs blasted the way the authority responded to a meningitis case involving a nine-month-old boy from Burnley in May.

The authority said information may only be passed on to somebody else with the patient's consent, or on a "need-to-know" basis if there are certain sets of circumstances.

These include the release of information in order to protect public health.

Dr Stephen Morton, East Lancashire Health Authority's director of public health, said: "The guidelines recognise the importance of sharing information on a need-to-know basis to monitor and control infectious diseases."

He said current arrangements were consistent with the latest Government guidance.

Dr Morton added: "Wider release than on a need-to-know basis of personal patient information to protect the public is rarely necessary or justified in the field of communicable disease control.

"The most important consideration is whether the release of information to protect the public should prevail over the duty of confidence to the patient.

"It is important not to equate the 'public interest' with what may be 'of interest' to the public."

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