This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the debate in the House of Lords on the motion moved by Lord Freyberg (Crossbench), “that this House takes note of NHS and healthcare data and how that data could be used to improve the health of the nation”. It describes what healthcare data is, the uses to which it might be put and the challenges in doing so. It also outlines the main organisations involved in the area and recent developments in public policy.
NHS and Healthcare Data (290 KB , PDF)
Uses of data within the NHS include improving decision-making in patient care and monitoring both the success of treatments and the performance of care providers. Outside the NHS, data is sought by, for example, academics for research and commercial organisations for monitoring and developing drugs. The Medical Research Council has stated that the UK could be a global leader in the field of health data research. However, there are also challenges in using healthcare data. Some of these are technological, but there is also widespread concern about privacy and public trust, partly in the light of recent breaches of data security.
The use of data in healthcare in England is guided and delivered by a range of organisations. The roles of these bodies have sometimes overlapped, and some past strategies for data usage are no longer considered appropriate. Steps are currently being taken to address these issues. The recently appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, has also stated that technology was one of his three “early priorities” and committed £475 million to enhance technology-driven health and care.
Two emerging data-driven technologies with the potential to improve healthcare outcomes are artificial intelligence and genomics. These also highlight the potential commercial value of NHS data and there are debates about how this might be realised. Data and technology might also be used to reduce costs in the NHS, with one estimate putting potential savings at 7 to 11.5 percent of healthcare expenditure.
NHS and Healthcare Data (290 KB , PDF)
While handling record demand, the social care sector in England is facing workforce, resource and funding pressures. There are also millions of people providing unpaid care. The new Labour government has announced an intention to create a ‘National Care Service’, and to improve NHS and social care integration as part of a 10-year plan for reform.
Between 1970 and the early 1990s, over 30,000 NHS patients were given blood transfusions, or treatments made using blood products, which were contaminated with hepatitis C or HIV. Over 3,000 people have since died, and thousands more live with health conditions. The infected blood inquiry called for immediate compensation, public memorials, and for lessons to be learned in medicine, government and the civil service. In August 2024 the government set out plans for compensation.
Vaginal mesh implants are used to repair damaged internal tissue. However, many women receiving these implants have experienced severe complications. In 2020, an independent review recommended establishing a compensation scheme for the women affected. The Conservative government rejected this recommendation, saying its focus would be on improving product safety. However, calls for redress have continued, with a subsequent review in 2024 also recommending the establishment of a compensation scheme.
