UK approves new laws which will share NHS and other data – what you should know
The UK has approved new data laws which will make it easier for citizens to share data across platforms.
The Data Use and Access Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday (19 June) and is set to pump £10 billion into the British economy over the next decade – by cutting NHS and police bureaucracy, speeding up roadworks, and turbocharging innovation in tech and science, the government said.
Measures in the Act will ensure healthcare information – like a patient’s pre-existing conditions, appointments and tests – can easily be accessed in real time across all NHS trusts, GP surgeries and ambulance services, no matter what IT system they are using.
Enabling data sharing across platforms will save NHS staff 140,000 hours a year in admin, giving them more time to care for patients and make better informed decisions for them more quickly, speeding up diagnoses and treatments.
Sharing data on groceries to energy usage
The Act is also expected to boost the development of technology, such as price comparison apps that can provide hyper-personalised experiences to people so they can save money and time with bills and food shops.
The new laws will also broaden the access that third parties, like energy suppliers, have to consumer data. For example, consumers will be able to share data on their energy usage which will help create more accurate price comparisons, informing them what utility provider best suits their needs.
This measure will give consumers the ability to compare utility prices, find better deals, and reduce their energy use, as well as foster tech innovation and boost competition, which will ultimately grow the UK economy, the government said.
Other key changes which are set to be introduced under the new data laws include:
- Social media: The laws will help bereaved parents get the answers they deserve when social media activity is linked to the death of their child. The new laws will establish a data preservation process that will require Ofcom, when notified by a coroner, to issue a data preservation notice to social media companies supporting their investigations into the death.
- Underground network: Creating a National Underground Asset Register, a map of the country’s underground pipes and cables, which will allow construction workers to instantly see their exact location – information which currently takes six days to access.
- Sharing rental and work information: By legislating on digital verification services and introducing trusted digital verification tools, people will be able to prove their identity online more easily. This will simplify important tasks such as renting a flat and starting work.
“For too long, previous governments have been sitting on a goldmine of data, wasting a powerful resource which can be used to help families juggle food costs, slash tedious life admin, and make our NHS and police work smarter,” said Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.
“These new laws will finally unleash that power for hardworking people – putting cash back in pockets and boosting vital public services, all part of our Plan for Change.”
