The 1997 report of the Review of Patient-Identifiable Information, chaired by Dame Fiona Caldicott made a number of recommendations for regulating the use and transfer of person-identifiable information between NHS organisations and non-NHS bodies. The Caldicott Committee’s remit included all person-identifiable information passing between organisations for purposes other than direct care, medical research, or where there was a statutory requirement for information. The aim was to ensure that person-identifiable information was shared only for justified purposes and that only the minimum necessary information was shared in each case.

 Central to the recommendations of the Caldicott Committee was the appointment in each NHS organisation of a "Guardian" to oversee the arrangements for the use and sharing of personal information. Subsequent work extended the requirement to appoint Caldicott Guardians into Councils with Social Services Responsibilities [CSSRs]. The Caldicott Guardian for CFE is Grahame Ward.