Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care has today asked NHS Digital to provide data and services management as part of measures to counter the spread of Coronavirus.
NHS Digital will collect and analyse data to help healthcare professional understand the illness more and help to identify those who will be vulnerable to the disease.
It will also analyse how the service is responding to the threat and provide services that will make it easier for NHS and social care staff to do their jobs; including advice and information on Coronavirus.
Dr Jem Rashbass, Executive Director of Master Registries and Data at NHS Digital said “This is a rapidly moving situation and data is key to helping us understand how best to protect individuals at risk, know what is happening to patients and ensure that the NHS under pressure can deliver effectively.”
“We are facing one of the most significant challenges in modern times and information about the virus, and people’s experience of it, is key to the research in pursuit of a vaccine or to gain new insights about the disease. ”
“NHS Digital will work closely with trusted partners to ensure that data is collected, analysed and disseminated in a way which best supports the whole system.”
Hancock issued a notice under the ‘Control of Patient Information’ regulations (COPI) authorising NHS Digital to disseminate information to approved organisations in order to help them to effectively tackle the pandemic.
