Report: How should patient data be used?
The NHS is looking at using people’s health information in new ways to plan services and offer more proactive care. We wanted to understand what the public think to ensure that any future use of patient information reflects their expectations.
National patient data is already being used by the NHS to understand health needs and plan services. In future, it wants to use local patient data to plan local services more effectively and target support to the people who most need it.
Most people are supportive of their data being used for the public good, but this support is conditional.
- Concerns around data being shared across multiple organisations, commercial benefit, security and being identified reduce people's trust in data sharing.
- Clear rules, information about data sharing being easy to understand, and people having real choice and control can increase confidence.
Download our full report below.
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Report: How should patient data be used?
You can also watch a summary of this report below.
This project was commissioned by the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (ICB). The research was conducted between February and March 2026.
