Data strategy is full of potential, but government must make recommendations a reality Health Foundation response to the government’s data strategy for health and social care

Responding to the publication of the government’s data strategy for health and social care, Charles Tallack, Director of Data Analytics at the Health Foundation, said:

‘Today’s strategy is an important milestone in the government’s efforts to make better use of data to improve health and social care in England. The improvements made to last year’s draft strategy are welcome.

‘Making better use of data is essential to help streamline care and improve experience and outcomes for those using health and care services. It will also be crucial to the health and social care system’s ability to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and address the significant challenges ahead. These include improving targeting of services and interventions to prevent ill-health and reduce inequalities, enabling faster and better testing of treatments and innovations at scale, and supporting the workforce.

‘While the strategy represents an important step in the right direction, its impact will depend on whether and how the commitments are implemented in the coming years. It will also be important for the public, patients, service users, and staff across the system to be engaged in implementation – to build and maintain confidence in the use of data. And the strategy must be properly resourced, to ensure its ambition can be realised.’

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Emily Wilson
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