New data laws will allow patient data to be shared across the NHS

A new bill which will allow patients’ data to be easily transferable across the NHS has been introduced to Parliament.

Delivered by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), the bill will require IT suppliers for the health and care sector to ensure their systems meet common standards to enable data sharing across platforms.

The Data Use and Access Bill will enable healthcare information to be easily accessed in real time across all NHS trusts, GP surgeries and ambulance services, whichever IT system they are using.

A press release, published by DSIT on 24 October 2024, said that the measure “will free up 140,000 hours in NHS staff time every year, providing quicker care for patients and potentially saving lives”.

Government launches online platform to shape 10 year health plan 

The government has launched an online engagement platform for members of the public, NHS staff and experts to share their ideas to shape its forthcoming 10 year health plan.

Change.NHS.uk will be live until the start of 2025, and available via the NHS App.

The public engagement exercise will help shape the government’s 10 year health plan which will be published in spring 2025 and will be underlined by three big shifts in healthcare – hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention.

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Source: Digital Health, 24 October 2024