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The Health Foundation announces Networked Data Lab

The Health Foundation has announced five partner organisations have joined its Networked Data Lab, a national network of healthcare data and analytics experts.

The network brings together teams from across the country to develop a deeper understanding of the factors affecting people’s health in the UK. It will focus on understanding how to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable people who are shielding or identifying the unmet need of those with severe mental illness.

It will use data from GPs, hospitals and local authorities with a hope to create new insights for national or local decision makers.

The Networked Data Lab will also share the learnings and the code used for analysis, for others to use.

The five partner organisations are:

  • The Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science (ACHDS) which includes NHS Grampian and the University of Aberdeen
  • Public Health Wales, NHS Wales Informatics Service (NWIS), Swansea University (SAIL Databank) and Social Care Wales (SCW)
  • Imperial College Health Partners (ICHP), Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI), Imperial College London (ICL), and North West London CCGs
  • Liverpool CCG, Healthy Wirral Partnership and Citizens Advice Bureau
  • Leeds CCG and Leeds City Council

Sarah Deeny, Assistant Director of Data Analytics at the Health Foundation, said: “What has been clear throughout the COVID-19 crisis, is that high-quality and comprehensive data and information are often the key to solving our most pressing health and care issues.”

“Data has played a fundamental role in understanding the challenges presented by the virus and in finding innovative ways to solve problems.”

“But these complex challenges extend beyond the current crisis – the same innovation will be needed in future to ensure that health and care services meet people’s needs.”