The Richmond Group of Charities has issued the following statement on the Government response to the National Data Guardian for Health and Care’s Review of Data Security, Consent and Opt-Outs.
Dr Charlotte Augst, the Richmond Group’s Partnership Director, says:
“We welcome the fact that the Government has now responded to the review of data use across health and care conducted by the National Data Guardian, Dame Fiona Caldicott. The Richmond Groups sees responsible use of data as essential to ensuring patients get better treatment and care.”
The Richmond Group wants people with long term conditions, such as arthritis, asthma or dementia, to live as well as possible for as long as possible. This means we have to improve the quality of our prevention efforts, NHS services and our collective support offer to people who live with ongoing health problems. This can only be achieved if all people who design and run services know what works and what doesn’t, and if everyone understands what patients want and experience. This is why good use of data is so important.
Good use of data clearly means safe use of data, too. It is therefore crucially important that we safeguard patient privacy and continue to honour the wishes of patients for how their data is being used.
We, as leading health and care charities, can provide between us many examples where safe, intelligent use of health and care data has improved the lives of people living with long term conditions. From preventing strokes through better detection and management of people at risk, to empowering mental health patients to own and share their care plans with their team, we will only make the required progress if we fully utilise the power of good data.
We stand ready to work with all partners in the system who want to realise better, safe, use of healthcare data for the benefit of everyone who relies on health and care services.
For further information please contact Dr Charlotte Augst, Partnership Director on 020 7091 2091 or 07834 192243.
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