Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to encourage patient participation in the NHS federated data platform.

The Federated Data Platform (FDP) refers to software which will enable National Health Service organisations to bring together operational data, currently stored in separate systems, to support staff to access the information they need in one safe and secure environment. The FDP will allow staff to plan theatre time to maximise use, drawing together information on clinical need, waiting times, staff rotas, and other operational data.

The NHS will ensure public engagement is focused on how data will be used within the FDP. To do this, the FDP programme is actively engaging and involving patients and the public in decisions about how data will be used with the platform, and about how to best to meet the duty of transparency and open communication. It has published clear and accessible information, and will continue to do so, including details about who will access data and for what purpose. Where possible, public information will be co-created with public/patient groups and representatives.

The FDP programme will: be clear about people’s rights and choice to opt out (where applicable); has undertaken a series of public deliberation events and national research to understand the views of the public in relation to how their data is used, and to understand their expectations regarding how they are informed about its use; will engage with the public for the life of the programme, ensuring alignment to other data programmes, the development of a national data pact and engagement related to Data Saves Lives, the national data strategy; will engage the public, in a range of ways, to understand their views regarding patient data, including monitoring monthly through a public survey; and will continue to work closely with stakeholder groups who represent and champion the voice of the public and patients.