aql’s Adam Beaumont chairs digital healthcare discussion
The Digital Health Enterprise Zone (DHEZ) in Bradford played host to a discussion on the future of healthcare last night.
The event, dubbed ‘Healthcare’s Smart Future’ and organised by Digital Leaders, was attended by a range of stakeholders from healthcare software companies, startups, the council and the NHS.
Lead discussants included Ian Sharp, CEO of DHEZ Ltd and Head of Digital Catapult Centre Yorkshire. aql’s Professor Adam Beaumont chaired.
The night’s biggest debate revolved around data regulation and governance, particularly as it relates to the NHS. Patients are missing out on potential breakthroughs, it was argued, because of the lack of a framework to allow citizens to consent to their anonymised data being used in research. A risk-averse management culture and lack of doctor education around data-sharing are also affecting patients.
The conversation moved to what we can learn from other countries, such as Estonia, which offers a single citizen ID card that allows third party access to specific pieces of information. In a bar, for instance, the Estonian ID can confirm that its holder is of age without revealing their name, address or even date of birth.
A similar system within the NHS could unlock healthcare innovation on a massive scale by giving patients control of their own data – the NHS being, after all, merely the data’s holder, rather than its owner. Most patients, research shows, are open to sharing their anonymised data for research purposes.
Argued one discussant, the NHS needs to recognise that data is citizen-led, and shouldn’t be locked away between doctor and patient. “It’s a 19th century mentality to have data locked down by individual GPs.”
Check out future Digital Leaders events here.
