Launch of Sudlow Review

This independent Review, entitled ‘Uniting the UK’s Health Data: A Huge Opportunity for Society’, has been commissioned by the Chief Medical Officer for England, the UK National Statistician and NHS England’s National Director for Transformation. The Review presents a bold vision for overcoming the barriers and inefficiencies that currently delay the safe and secure use of health data to improve lives.

The Review aims to assess and enhance the flows of health-relevant data across the four UK nations, advancing data management to benefit public health while maintaining privacy and public trust. This initiative comes at a time when data-driven insights are increasingly critical in shaping health policy and enhancing patient outcomes. Building on advancements in data sharing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the review addresses existing barriers to securely linking and analysing data from multiple sources. Additionally, it explores the potential of incorporating data from NHS operations, academic research, mobile apps, environmental monitoring, and more to create a richer, more comprehensive view of public health.

Cathie's team consulted a wide range of stakeholders, including the NHS, the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, and various academic, public health, and governmental organisations. Insights from these consultations, alongside ongoing public engagement, shaped recommendations that have relevance across the UK, focusing initially on actionable steps for England.

Recommendations

Guided by a panel of experts from key health and data organisations, the Review’s recommendations span five main areas, aiming to transform the UK’s health data ecosystem.

1. Major national public bodies with responsibility for or interest in health data should agree a coordinated joint strategy to make England’s health data a critical national infrastructure 
2. Leading government health and research bodies should establish a national health data service for England with accountable senior leadership 
3. The Department for Health and Social Care should oversee and commission a strategy for ongoing coordinated engagement with patients, public, health professionals, policymakers and politicians 
4. The health and social care departments in the four UK nations should set a UK-wide approach for data access processes and proportionate data governance 
5. National organisations in the four UK nations should develop a UK-wide system for standards and accreditation of secure data environments (SDEs) holding data from the health and care system

Launch recording

The launch of the Sudlow Review was live-streamed on Friday 08 November 2024, with Cathie presenting preliminary insights and discussing the review’s objectives. This event provided a unique opportunity to learn more about the future of health data management and its implications for patient care and public health research. A recording of the live stream is now available to watch.

Watch the live stream launch recording

Further information

The Sudlow Review | HDR UK

Catherine Sudlow | The University of Edinburgh