Explanatory note

The National Health Service (Venereal Diseases) Regulations 1968 (S.I. 1968/1624) imposed on hospital authorities an obligation to secure that information about venereal diseases obtained by their officers should be treated as confidential. These Regulations replace the 1968 Regulations which lapse on the repeal of section 12 of the National Health Service Act 1946 (c.81), and impose similar obligations on health authorities. They also extend the scope of the obligation so as to include all sexually transmitted diseases and not only those commonly known as venereal diseases.