The public will be invited to play a role in shaping how the NHS uses their health data to enhance patient care. As part of a series of significant events, the NHS plans to gather public opinions on the digital and data transformation within the healthcare system. These events will provide the public with a valuable opportunity to inform the NHS's approach around how to use their health data effectively.
Enhancing the utilisation of data offers huge benefits for patients, facilitating more joined-up care and better allocation of NHS resources. This leads to faster cancer diagnoses, reduced waiting times for elective surgeries, and shorter hospital stays.
In the coming year, the NHS will persist in emphasising the significance of data across the health and care system. Patients are truly interested in how their data are used and how they are safeguarded, which means it is crucial the public play a role in shaping the future of data usage and its potential to save lives.
Dr. Vin Diwakar, National Director of Transformation at NHS England, said, "Public support is pivotal in our efforts to harness data for improved care, and the most effective approach is through meaningful engagement”.
Better use of NHS data is essential to improve our health – from individual care, to research to planning services. However, skepticism is also prevalent among many patients. Essentially, building public trust in the safeguards that secure patient data is paramount. The Patients Association strongly supports the idea of a transparent and genuine public engagement initiative concerning the use of patient data.
Nicola Hamilton, Head of Understanding Patient Data, stated, “Understanding Patient Data welcomes the announcement of large-scale engagement events to discuss the use of health data”.
“This is urgently needed to ensure the public has a greater voice in how their data is used, what choices they have, and what safeguards they feel are necessary to improve potential benefits and reduce potential harms”.
Source: NHS News
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