Better, broader, safer: using health data for research and analysis
The Goldacre review was tasked with finding ways to deliver better, broader, safer use of NHS data for analysis and research.
The recommendations are derived from extensive engagement with over 300 individuals, 8 focus groups, 100 written submissions, substantial desk research, and detailed discussion with our senior stakeholder group.
Report topic areas
- Security
- Modern methods
- Data curation
- Data analysts
- Governance
- Strategy
Security
All NHS policies should acknowledge the shortcomings of ‘pseudonymisation’ for managing patient privacy
Build a small number of secure analytics platforms (Trusted Research Environments)
Shut down all flows of psudonymised GP data as soon as TREs are built
Security
Create faster data access rules and processes for safe users
Use TREs for all analysis of NHS patient records by NHS staff, academics and innovators
Publish logs of all TRE activity
Modern methods
Reproducible Analytical Pathways should be the minimum standard for all NHS data analysis
All code for NHS data curation and analysis should be shared openly
Fund competitive, high status, standalone software projects and developers
Data curation
Stop doing data curation differently and duplicatively in every team and project
Recognise NHS data curation as a complex, high status technical challenge
Devote teams to systematic curation work, using shared practices, code, tools, and documentation
Create an open online library for NHS data curation code, validity tests, and technical documentation
Data analysts careers
Create an NHS Analyst Service modelled on the Government Economic Service and Statistical Service
NHS Analyst Service should have:
- a head of profession
- clear job descriptions tied to technical skills
- progression opportunities to become a senior analyst
- realistic salaries for expensive specific skills
- a head of profession
Data analysis training
Create an Open College for NHS Analysts
The Open College should provide initial training and continuing professional development tied to job descriptions
All Open College content should be shared openly online
Train senior non-analysts and leaders to be good customers of data teams
Governance
End trusts and GPs all acting as separate data controllers
Create a single application for all ethics, governance, and access permissions
Publish access delays annually
Governance
Get appropriate financial return where marketable innovations are driven by NHS data
Avoid exclusive commercial arrangements
Disclose all funding for TREs including: source, amount, recipients, objectives, and outputs
Strategy
Rapidly create Data Pioneer Groups to develop open methods, code, and technical documentation
Data Pioneer Groups should initially be separate from ‘business as usual’, but should incrementally subsume it
Strategy
Create very senior strategic leadership roles for developers, data architects and data scientists
Develop a common TRE service run by civil servants