CSP welcomes data strategy for NHS

The NHSX draft Data Strategy, Data Saves Lives: Reshaping Health and Social Care with Data sets out government plans to harness the potential of data in health and care, while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and ethics.

In its response to the strategy consultation, the CSP acknowledged accessible high quality data is essential for many reasons including in order to understand population level needs for services and workforce planning.

However, the CSP insisted more must be done to ensure people’s ability to access data infrastructure.

Many members are limited in their ability to collect or use data by obsolete computers or inadequate web connections. The CSP called for urgent investment in essential ICT equipment and infrastructure, and data skills training throughout the NHS workforce.

The CSP also said the strategy should acknowledge the UK-wide dimensions of health and care needs including tackling health equity, workforce planning, development and research.

Jenny Andrew, CSP Head of Data, said: ‘While we strongly welcome the intention of the NHS data strategy, we believe that it lacks detail on the core activity of data governance.

This is an opportunity to set out how data policy and infrastructure development will be grounded in a real-world understanding of health and care needs.

'A data governance structure that represents diverse experience and healthcare expertise will be the foundation of a purpose-driven and accountable NHS data infrastructure.

‘We will continue to advocate for a holistic view of health and care data across sectors, healthcare disciplines and geographies.’

The CSP emphasised the urgent need to build data literacy throughout the health and care workforces and at every stage of the data supply chain in its full response.

NHSX is continuing to assess user needs with a survey of Electronic Patient Record (EPR) usability, which aims to identify improvements to the current system.