Health Data: Research and Analysis

Baroness Bryan of Partick Excerpts

Wednesday 15th May 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

I do not wish to mislead the House—I can talk only about NHS England. If the noble Baroness is referring to healthcare in Scotland, or indeed in Wales or Northern Ireland, I cannot talk specifically about this. What I can say is that the IT system software is transformative for healthcare in England—but it also equally applies to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

[Baroness Bryan of Partick (Lab)]

My Lords, Professor Goldacre was concerned that in relation to health data we have lost public trust. There are many ways in which our data can be marketised, and people are quite rightly suspicious of it being misused, legally or illegally. Given the scale of NHS data stolen and now being released in Dumfries and Galloway, can the Minister agree that NHS users across the UK are right to be concerned?

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

I am sorry to say that I do not agree with the premise of the noble Baroness’s question. Improving patient outcomes through new technology or improved drugs requires the use of NHS data. Therefore, to make the best and most responsible use of the data that they hold, the NHS and social care systems need to work in partnership with a wide range of organisations, including commercial ones.