Labor promises to save the NHS by sharing data from GP records

Mr Streeting says the Government's plans to use hospital data do not go far enough. Photo: Hugh Hastings/Getty Images

The shadow health secretary said the last Labor government introduced patient choice in 2002 in response to “conspiracy theories that it was about privatization.”

“ We will take the same approach to the core issue in the future of the NHS: patient data.»

«The NHS has struck gold here but is leaving it in the ground,» he said, adding that the plans to create a unified data platform were “the right thing to do.”

The government's plans have already sparked controversy after awarding a contract to Palantir, the US firm best known for its work with intelligence and military agencies in the US.

Mr Streeting said: 'The government had a choice — they could stand up to the proponents conspiracy theories on the one hand and vested interests on the other. Or they may back off and leave the job half done. Timid Tories chose an easy life and worse medical care.

“The platform does not include GP data, which is key to improving public health outcomes.”

Under the current government, the NHS has made plans to share data that could be accessed by doctors, researchers and pharmaceutical companies .

But the care.data scheme was scrapped in 2016 due to backlash from GPs and breaches of confidentiality. campaign participants.

The Labor Party believes data sharing is “critical”; to improve patient care rather than leaving the NHS to wither on the vine; Photo: Timon Schneider/Alami

Mr Streeting accused the Government of refusing to take on the «fear mongering» of the «tinfoil hat brigade» on TikTok and X, formerly known as Twitter, to persuade followers to stop sharing data.

“This is a fight that the Labor government is prepared to fight,” he said, adding that it would be transparent about what aspects of patient data would be shared; which third parties had access; what are patient rights and opt-out mechanisms; and measures to protect patient privacy.

But he said data sharing was “critical” to improving patient care rather than leaving the NHS to “wither on the vine.”

Health chiefs say NHS trusts that piloted the federated data platform were able to speed up treatment because the systems showed all care staff which tasks had been completed and which remained undone.

Mr Streeting also suggested that the National Health Service should follow Singapore's example and introduce challenges to step counting to encourage people to live healthier lives.

Andrew Stevenson, the Health Secretary, said: «Instead of putting down hard-working people who work in our NHS, Labor needs to explain how it will pay for its billions of pounds of unfunded spending obligations.

“Labour has no plan and therefore cannot deliver the long-term changes the NHS needs. Only Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives have a plan that will strengthen our economy, which means we can continue to invest in the NHS.»