This comprehensive review sets a significant foundation for crucial dialogues and transformative decisions around the future of health data management in the United Kingdom.
We stand on the threshold of a healthcare revolution driven by data. The potential of health data to redefine healthcare and research is immense, from the prospects of personalised medicine to predictive analytics. The UK, courtesy of the National Health Service (NHS) and its comprehensive, lifetime health records of over 65 million individuals, is uniquely positioned to capitalise on these opportunities. This potential was underscored during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, where swift and secure data linkage enabled the formulation of vital policy decisions concerning lockdowns, shielding, and vaccination strategies.
The IET’s response to the ‘Unifying Health Data in the UK’ review presents our perspectives across four central themes: the current use of health data in research and healthcare, the barriers to health data unification in the UK, potential strategies to circumnavigate these obstacles, and the types of data that should be given priority to bolster research and healthcare. Furthermore, our response will provide insightful, pragmatic, and feasible solutions to the challenges currently impeding health data management in the UK.
We believe that harnessing the power of health data to transform the UK’s healthcare landscape requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders - from engineering professionals, healthcare providers, and patient groups to policymakers and the wider public.