Professor Cathie Sudlow’s independent review of the UK health data landscape, published last week, offers critical insights into how we can safely and securely use data science to improve health services across the UK.
The review makes five key recommendations for transforming the national health data ecosystem to improve health, wellbeing and prosperity across society.
The HRA has supported Professor Sudlow’s work, which was commissioned by the Chief Medical Officer for England, the UK National Statistician and NHS England’s National Director for Transformation.
Janet Messer, our Director of Approvals says:
Janet Messer, Director of Approvals‘We welcome the publication of this independent review by Professor Sudlow. Professor Sudlow makes clear the huge potential of health data to improve people’s lives if we use it in a way that people can trust.
Our systems and processes support health professionals and researchers to use data to improve people’s health and lives, but the report shows that complexity and inefficiencies in the UK’s data systems are impeding important research.
We’re already working with our partners to make it easier to do research using health data in a way that people can trust. This includes identifying opportunities to co-ordinate and standardise processes in a proportionate way. We are also identifying where public conversations are needed to inform appropriate safeguards that will maintain the high level of support that people have in the use of their health data to benefit themselves and others.
It's vital that we all support the safe, secure and effective use of health data if we want to maximise the potential of this significant UK asset to improve people’s health and wellbeing and accelerate scientific innovation. We look forward to discussing the recommendations of this report with our partners.
You can read the full report on the Health Data Research UK website.