Data Platform to Enhance Patient Care and Resource Planning
The NHS is set to revolutionise patient care and resource management with the launch of a new software, the Federated Data Platform, from spring next year.
The platform aims to integrate existing NHS data, providing healthcare staff with streamlined access to crucial information for more effective and timely patient care.
The Federated Data Platform, designed to address post-pandemic challenges, will consolidate real-time data, including bed availability, elective waiting lists, staff schedules, medical supplies, and social care placements.
By amalgamating this information, healthcare providers can optimise resources, plan surgeries and outpatient clinics, and ensure patients receive more prompt care.
A consortium led by Palantir Technologies UK, with support from Accenture, PwC, NECS, and Carnall Farrar, has been awarded the contract to develop the software.
The £330 million investment over seven years will see the platform gradually expanded as more NHS trusts join.
Privacy and data security are paramount, with strict controls ensuring that no company involved in the Federated Data Platform can access health and care data without explicit NHS permission.
The platform prioritises data for direct care and planning, with no involvement in research, and GP data will not feed into the national version.
Pilot projects of the data-sharing approach have demonstrated positive outcomes, including reduced waiting times, quicker diagnosis, and treatment times.
North Tees and Hartlepool Trust, for instance, saw a 36% reduction in long-term stays despite increased demand.
Dr. Vin Diwakar, NHS National Director for Transformation, emphasised the significance of data use, stating: “Better use of data is essential for the NHS to tackle waiting times, join up patient care, and make the health service sustainable for the future.”
The Federated Data Platform builds upon the success of the National Data Platform, contributing to the NHS’s pandemic response and vaccination efforts.
It marks a significant step toward improving patient care coordination and addressing long-term healthcare challenges.
The platform’s deployment will involve a six-month implementation period, allowing for the transition of products supported by the current platform.
Each hospital trust and local health system will have its version of the software, facilitating seamless information sharing and connectivity.
Additionally, the Federated Data Platform will be the first to implement Privacy Enhancing Technology (NHS-PET), ensuring the highest standards of data security.
IQVIA has been selected for the NHS-PET contract, emphasising the commitment to safeguarding patient data.
Healthcare organisations and integrated care boards across England have expressed support for the Federated Data Platform’s principles, anticipating enhanced patient care, improved staff experience, and increased efficiency.
Patient engagement remains crucial, and ongoing public consultation will be facilitated through an independent Check and Challenge group.
The introduction of the Federated Data Platform reflects the NHS’s commitment to leveraging technology and data for the benefit of patient care, providing a foundation for a more connected and responsive healthcare system.
