Millions of patients are set to benefit from faster, more innovative treatment and diagnosis following publication of a new data strategy for health and social care.

Data Saves Lives: Reshaping Health and Social Care with Data will focus on seven principles to use the data driven power and innovation seen during the pandemic to drive transformation in health and care.

The strategy sets out reforms for the health and care sector, transforming the way data is used to drive breakthroughs and efficiencies. The hope is that the strategy could combat the Covid backlog and create an improved system in the future.

Principles include improving trust in the health and care systems’ use of data, giving health and care professionals the information that they need to provide the best care, and improving data for adult social care.

Additionally, the strategy aims to support local decision makers with data, empower researchers to develop life changing treatments and diagnostics work with partners to develop innovations that improve health and care and develop the right technical infrastructure.

To boost patient confidence, Secure Data Environments will be made the default for NHS and adult social care organisations to provide access to de-identified data for research.

This also means ensuring that health and care data can be shared safely and effectively across the UK to support individual care and to improve outcomes for people across the UK. This will include working with officials across the devolved administrations such as Scotland.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid, who is launching the strategy, comments: “We are embarking on a radical programme of reform that will make sure the NHS is set up to meet the challenges of 2048 – not 1948, when it was first established.

“Earlier this year I set out a range of stretching targets for digital transformation in health and care, and we’re making great progress […]”

He added: “This landmark document will look at how we can build on this momentum and apply the lessons challenges ahead of us, including tackling the Covid backlog and making the reforms that are vital to the future of health and care.

“It shows how we will use the power of data to bring benefits to all parts of health and social care.”

Recommended

• Leader Insights | Charting the rise of cloud native
• Scottish EDGE invests £1.5m in 40 early stage, high-growth businesses
• Know-it expands its team with a new head of product

Following a £200 million investment, Trusted Research Environments (TREs) – a form of Secure Data Environments – will be established to better enable researchers to securely access linked NHS data while maintaining the highest levels of privacy and security.

Additionally, the data strategy contains key commitments to give patients greater access to and control over their data including by simplifying the opt out processes for data sharing and improving access to GP records in the NHS app by giving patients access to their latest health information by November 2022.

The NHS app will also continue to be a useful tool for patients. Use of the app was boosted during the pandemic, with 28 million users already having the option to access their data and services.

Statistics showed, in April alone, that around 1.7 million patients were able to order repeat prescriptions, 150,000 primary care appointments were managed, and five million people viewed their GP record, saving vital clinician time.

Simon Madden, Joint Head of NHS Transformation Digital Policy Unit said: “This Data Strategy commits to resetting the relationship with the public on the use of health and care data.

“Building and maintaining public trust is a core ambition underpinned by the recognition that health data is patient data above all else.”

With an ambition for the NHS app to be a one stop shop for health needs, the strategy commits to a target of 75% of the adult population to be registered to use the NHS app by March 2024.

Get the latest news from DIGIT direct to your inbox

Our newsletter covers the latest technology and IT news from Scotland and beyond, as well as in-depth features and exclusive interviews with leading figures and rising stars.

To subscribe, click here.