The government has launched a commercial patient data
database to deliver operational intelligence to health
providers.
The new NHS information service draws on a database containing
details of every contact a patient has had with their healthcare
providers.
The service is a joint venture between the Health and Social
Care Information Centre (HSCIC) government agency and private firm
Dr Foster.
The initiative is designed to improve the use and accessibility
of data across health and social care services, and the paid-for
information will be marketed as Dr Foster Intelligence.
The first database released contains anonymous GP and hospital
data from 439,000 people who were admitted to hospital as emergency
cases at least three times in one year.
These so-called “frequent fliers” are said to represent a
quarter of the total annual emergency admissions to NHS
hospitals.
The database helps providers build a picture of how many people
regularly go to hospital and how much is spent on their care.
The HSCIC is contributing £12m to the venture, although it is
not known how much Dr Foster is paying in.
The government is hoping that the database will create an
“information market” in the health sector.