Care.data, where Big Data meets health

“Big Data” is a subject gracing the front pages of may newspapers and websites, but how many of us understand just what “Big Data” is, and how it relates to us?

Care.data, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) programme to make medical records available for research and health care use, is an example of a Big Data project, and its implications.

Using patient information to support research or plan new health services is nothing new — the NHS has been collecting information from every hospital admission since the 80s — but Care.data takes it to a whole new level.

Care.data will create a complete picture of the care that patients received, including prescriptions and test results. This information is made available to help specialists see how well different services perform, and the improvements to make. The information collected will help to find better ways of preventing and treating illnesses, and guide decisions about how to manage NHS resources.

Of course, the information shared will be regulated by law and very strict confidentiality rules, and if you don’t want your own information to be shared you can always opt-out. But this is where ethical questions surrounding Big Data projects and citizens’ medical records appear. The great amount of articles, blog posts and comments written about Care.data are the ultimate proof of the potential of Big Data to rouse public debate.

You can find more information about Care.data at:

Posted on April 8, 2014 by modangela in News. Leave a comment

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