‘Big tech’ firms analysing patient data a concern for staff

A recent survey has suggested that NHS staff are uncomfortable with multinational ‘big tech’ companies analysing anonymised patient data.

A YouGov poll of 1,027 healthcare professionals, commissioned by Sensyne Health, found that 81 per cent of staff support the analysis of anonymised data to enable quicker diagnosis and more effective treatments while 71 per cent believe this analysis can help solve some of the greatest healthcare challenges in the UK, such as cardiovascular disease.

However, only 12 per cent of NHS staff and private healthcare workers said they would be comfortable with a multinational ‘big tech’ company which pays little tax in the UK carrying the analysis out. Only 17 per cent said they would trust multinational ‘big tech’ companies to handle the data in a confidential manner.

Comparatively, 80 per cent believe the UK should have a domestic capability in AI and health data analysis so it doesn’t need to be outsourced to other countries or multinational companies. More than eight in 10 respondents say the NHS should receive a fair share of any financial gains made from subsequent medical discoveries, with 87 per cent are explicitly calling on the government to step in and ensure that both the NHS and UK taxpayers benefit from discoveries and gains resulting from any analysis.

The survey also found that 75 per cent said insights from the analysis of anonymised NHS patient data could lead to quicker diagnosis and more effective treatments; and 53 per cent believe it could help reduce the workload of doctors and nurses. Furthermore, 76 per cent believe increased use of data-driven technology, such as diabetes management apps, would lead to more accurate monitoring of symptoms and better management of conditions.

Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, commented: “From these survey results, NHS staff appear to have a good grasp of the benefits that can be achieved for patients by the effective use of patient data. We support the use of data in medical research and to improve the planning and delivery of care, provided it is done carefully and within the current legal framework. It is important that full information should be available to patients both about the benefits of sharing their data and the methods used to store it, share it and keep it secure. Patients and the public must feel confident that their data will be used appropriately and kept secure.”