GMC issued guidance on 25 April 2017 on confidentiality. 

"Our core guidance for doctors, Good medical practice, makes clear that patients have a right to expect that their personal information will be held in con dence by their doctors. This guidance sets out the principles of con dentiality and respect for patients’ privacy that you are expected to understand and follow.

This guidance outlines the framework for considering when to disclose patients’ personal information and then applies that framework to:

a disclosures to support the direct care of an individual patient

b disclosures for the protection of patients and others

c disclosures for all other purposes.

This guidance also sets out the responsibilities of all doctors for managing and protecting patient information."