Developing a trustworthy health data ecosystem

This webinar took place on 23 February 2021. To be notified of future events please register. 

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About this webinar

*This is an exclusive PPP subscriber’s only event. Public Sector and Third Sector individuals are able to attend for free.*

PPP Chair Stephen Dorrell welcomes Caroline Cake, CEO of Health Data Research UK, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of developing a trustworthy health data ecosystem in the UK.

The Government has announced a new review focusing on the efficient and safe use of health data for research and analysis to benefit patients and the healthcare sector. The review, alongside the forthcoming Data Strategy for Health and Social Care, will set the direction for the use of data in a post pandemic world.

However, while the pandemic has demonstrated just how important data is to the efficient delivery of care, completion of research and planning of services, many challenges remain to realise the full potential of this opportunity.

A trustworthy health data ecosystem

It is critical that researchers and healthcare professionals have secure, transparent and ethical access to health data. The UK is tremendously fortunate in the resource it has in raw data. The challenge now is to turn this into insight and action.

However, data is not just for healthcare professionals and the research community. There needs to be a sustained emphasis on engaging patients and improving access to their data. This requires a re-framing of patients as not merely passive recipients of care, but as empowered, informed decision makers and co-creators of their own health.

Further, as new government reforms set out a roadmap to the legislation for Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), leaders should be encouraged to place data and evidence at the heart of decision-making by building strong links between healthcare providers, local authorities, patients and other arm’s length bodies to ensure the necessary information is available to both the system and individuals.