The Department of Health has launched an information strategy which will see the development of a single, comprehensive online portal and the standardisation of data collection – both of which, it hopes, will serve to enable more effective health services and improve patient experiences.
“Using digital and online services can simplify the more routine aspects of care”, said health secretary Andrew Lansley. “The strategy sets out ways to reduce the frustrations we experience, such as repeating or recording the same information many times for different staff, or travelling long distances for services that could be delivered better in other ways.”
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Office has announced details of its plans to establish an ‘Open Data Institute’ in London – the first of its kind in the world.
The centre will be co-directed by the creator of the internet, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, and will focus on exploiting open data to stimulate economic growth.
In its first year, the centre aims to create or help four start-up companies; help four existing businesses; teach 25 people; develop and publish its curriculum; take on four fellows from industry; and advise the government on open data.
“Our aim is to make the UK an international role model in exploiting the potential of open data to generate new businesses and stimulate growth,” said minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude. “The Open Data Institute is a big step towards this.”
See our feature on the NHS strategy.