Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS is participating in a national Population Health Management (PHM) Development Programme. A key element of the programme involves performing analytics on patient-level-linked datasets to draw insight. There was a need to ensure from the outset that information governance (IG) topics would be addressed appropriately for this type of exercise.
One PHM Data Access Request application form and Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data (IGARD) approval was required for each of the eight CCGs, naming the CCG as the data controller and MLCSU and Optum as data processors.
Action
Our head of IG:
* worked with the programme from the outset to ensure all critical foundations were in place so that IG could be an enabler rather than being seen as a barrier in any way
* worked with the Data Services for Commissioners Regional Offices (DSCRO), business intelligence leads and Optum to finalise the Data Access Requests
* captured the required information within the Data Protection Impact Assessment necessary before data can be used in a new way or shared differently.
Impact
Our Head of IG ensured all SIROs and Caldicott Guardians were kept up to date during the fast-paced work programme and had the required assurances before they were asked to start signing applications.
The IG solution for this programme is expected to influence and shape those used by many others across ICS footprints.