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MyNHS launched to improve data sharing

MyNHS launched to improve data sharing
22 September 2014



A website has been published to aggregate data on from across the health and social care system to improve transparency. 
MyNHS will link to previously published data on: 
 – Patient safety.
 – Efficiency.
 – Quality.
 – Public health.
 – Social care commissioning.
 – Hospital food standards.

A website has been published to aggregate data on from across the health and social care system to improve transparency. 
MyNHS will link to previously published data on: 
 – Patient safety.
 – Efficiency.
 – Quality.
 – Public health.
 – Social care commissioning.
 – Hospital food standards.
The website is a joint project between the Department of Health, NHS England, Public Health England (PHE), the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). 
The groups plan to bring in data from clinical commissioning groups, GP practices, clinicians and mental health trusts at a later date. 
There is a feedback button on every page so that suggestions from the health and care sector can help improve the data and metrics over time.
Clinicians, managers, patient groups and campaigners will be able to use the data to highlight the best performing areas and improve standards through competition and transparency.
National Director for Patients and Information at NHS England Tim Kelsey said: "The NHS is a global leader in openness and transparency. MyNHS is a big step forward towards our transparency vision, bringing together data from across the health and care system for the first time and presenting it in an accessible, understandable and meaningful way. Healthcare professionals, commissioners, regulators and members of the public can then use this data to drive improvements in patient safety and quality – keeping patient outcomes at the heart."
Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt said: "MyNHS is a powerful new tool that will give professionals across the healthcare system the opportunity to learn from each other and improve their services. This is the next step of the journey we are taking to create the most open and transparent healthcare system in the world."
NHS Confederation director of policy Dr Johnny Marshall said: "It is vital that the information made available tells the whole story in a way that genuinely increases people's understanding and knowledge. This is how we will empower people to hold their local services to account. The engagement of both the NHS and public from the outset in developing this type of knowledge service will be essential in getting this right.
"At present it is not clear whether the data that will be underpinning MyNHS provides for such insight. Ultimately it will be on that basis that its success will be measured.
"What is just as important as having accurate and timely data is understanding it. By itself, data can sometimes be meaningless and confusing. So it is vital that not only do we present the right information but that we support patients to turn that in to an increased understanding with which they can make informed choices. Only then is knowledge really power."

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