Kathy Harrison Wins Digital Leader Award

The Digital Health and Care Awards celebrates individuals and teams working in the health, social care and housing sectors, whose innovation and creativity continue to put Scotland at the forefront of the digital revolution. Kathy Harrison’s Digital Leader Award is in recognition of her key role in creating the environment and culture that has enabled a successful, large-scale digital transformation project within health and social care. 

Kathy has been at the forefront of transforming secure data access through DataLoch, building upon the foundations of the Lothian Regional Safe Haven. She has driven change not only in collaboration with NHS Lothian partners but also with research groups and the Scottish Safe Haven Network, enabling a transformed, secure data access service. Thanks to her leadership, DataLoch is the only Safe Haven in Scotland that hosts primary care data alongside secondary care data - a milestone achieved through direct engagement with GP practices, demonstrating the value of data for research and services and securing 90% participation.

Under Kathy’s guidance, the DataLoch team curates, manages and maintains data feeds from over 20 health sources, providing secure access to more than 40 approved teams within and outside the NHS. She has also enabled the use of novel technologies, making DataLoch a secure environment for AI development and cross-sector collaboration - critical for advancing diagnosis tools, care pathways and medical note summarisation. 

Congratulations to Kathy Harrison on this well-deserved recognition! 

Further information

Digital Health and Care Awards 2025 | Holyrood Events

Visit the DataLoch website

_{Image credit | Andrew Perry}