Ambitious reforms for the health and care sector are set to be announced as the Department for Health and Social Care prepares to publish its New Data Strategy entitled Data Saves Lives: Reshaping Health and Social Care with Data.
The document was last updated in February and, according to the department, will be refreshed today. It allows for patients to have greater access to GP records through the NHS App and power over how data this data is used including 'simplified' opt out processes.
According to the department, the public will be consulted on a new “data pact” which will set out how the healthcare system will use patient data, and what the public has the right to expect.
It also provides £25 million for 'rapid digitisation' of social care which plans for 'at least' 80 per cent of social care providers having digitised care records in place by March 2024. The seven principles set out in the data strategy are:
- Improving trust in the health and care systems use of data
- Giving health and care professionals the information they need to provide the best care
- Improving data for adult social care
- Supporting local decision makers with data
- Empowering researchers with the data they need to develop life changing treatments and diagnostics
- Working with partners to develop innovations that improve health and care
- Developing the right technical infrastructure
Speaking at the HealthTech summit, Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to say:
"We will make sure researchers and innovators are able to access data safely and efficiently.
"In this country we have some of the world’s best research institutes and universities, a powerhouse life sciences sector, and a thriving HealthTech industry.
"When this ingenuity meets the insight of health and care data, the opportunities are incredible."
Matthew Taylor chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said:
“This is an another important step towards enabling the NHS to use the power of data more effectively to improve patient care and be more efficient.
“NHS staff often have to deal with clunky IT systems that can hinder their productivity and make their jobs harder than they need to be. These steps announced today will remove some of the barriers they face and will help to arm health and social care professionals with the information they need. "
