Applications open for London data project to improve health outcomes

The London Health Data Strategy programme (LHDS) is inviting NHS organisations, academia and those within the healthcare industry to apply to lead a number of projects using pan-London data.

The LHDS prpgramme will support up to 10 new projects which are focused on improving health outcomes for Londoners through the power of data. It was established by the NHS in London and is supported by five London universities, OneLondon, Health Data Research UK and NHS England.

These chosen Data at Scale Improvement Projects will be supported in the fields of healthcare planning, product research and development and clinical research. NHS-led projects are eligible to apply for funding.

The LHDS programme is working on developing a secure pan-London data platform to support advances in the health and care sector in the region. Its secure data environment will provide health and care insights on the local population, connect research and clinical care and drive collaboration between existing initiatives.

Selected improvement projects must ensure that public engagement is at the heart of their plans. LHDS has already determined that Londoners are supportive of using joined-up data to support individual and proactive care, as well as planning and research.

The improvement projects will build on the success of four Pathfinder Projects. These projects were awarded £1m in funding and are using it to join up and use data in cancer pathways, asthma, high blood pressure and pre-school immunisation projects.

Chris Streather, medical director at NHS London, said: “Our mission is to help make London the healthiest global city using the power of data to improve the health of Londoners.

“Our Pathfinder Projects are already leading the way in showing how joining up data can lead to improvements in key areas like treatment for cancer or high blood pressure. The Improvement Projects are the next stage in this exciting journey where we will support a range of innovative projects to improve health and care in the capital.”

Lessons learned from the Pathfinder Projects and the Improvement Projects will go on to shape the policies, infrastructure, governance, data strategies and public engagement of the LHDS programme.

Professor Carol Dezateux, professor of clinical epidemiology and health data science at Queen Mary University and childhood immunisation and Pathfinder Project lead, said: “The Pathfinder Project allowed us to expand and share our work with health data in north east London with partners in other London regions to improve uptake of pre-school immunisations across the capital.

“This was invaluable during the recent polio booster campaign. When children in London needed an urgent additional dose of a polio vaccine, we were able to pivot our childhood immunisation tools, analysis and learning and inform the region-wide response.

“The new Improvement Projects provide more exciting opportunities to shape how we join up data to meet regional challenges and improve the health of all Londoners.”