• Move will streamline data sharing processes across the NHS – benefitting patients while ensuring rigorous data protection safeguards remain in place
• Improved data sharing will ensure patients get more streamlined care and can make more informed choices about how and where they access care

Patients will benefit from more streamlined care and be able to make more informed choices about how and where they access treatment after plans to transform NHS data sharing were brought forward.

The Department for Health and Social Care said the proposed transfer of NHS Digital’s functions into NHS England which were due to happen at the end of March 2023 would now happen in early January 2023.

The move will create a single statutory body responsible for data and digital technology for the NHS – meaning patients will benefit from:

• A streamlined experience due to a reduced need to repeatedly share information across the health system
• The ability to make more informed choices about care by providing information about length of wait for treatment, making waiting lists by speciality and by provider, more accessible – a key part of Our Plan for Patients
• Easier access to electronic patient records through accelerated digital transformation services for patients.

The move will build on the huge progress seen on digital transformation during the pandemic, driving efficiencies across the NHS as evidence suggests digitally mature providers are 10% more efficient than their less digitally mature peers.

Accelerating the transfer will lead to faster improvements in co-operation between the key digital bodies of the NHS by bringing them under one roof for the first time.  This will ensure the health and care sector is fully equipped to face the future and deliver for patients.

In line with commitments made to Parliament, NHS England will provide the same protections for people’s data as NHS Digital, whilst taking advantage of the merger to improve processes where possible. Working closely with partners, including the Information Commissioner and the National Data Guardian, DHSC and NHSE will ensure there continues to be rigorous internal controls to ensure that data is used and shared safely, securely and appropriately to:

• deliver high-quality care
• understand and protect the health of the population
• effectively plan and improve services
• research and develop innovative treatments, vaccines and diagnostics

Making effective use of the data collected by health and social care services is essential to deliver high quality care, and improving the health of the population. The transfer, which is subject to parliamentary approval and agreement with the Devolved Administration, will see the statutory role of NHS Digital move to NHS England.

This is an important change to make sure that all the expertise and activity in relation to data and digital services are together in a single organisation and meets a key recommendation of Laura Wade-Gery’s review: Putting data, digital and tech at the heart of transforming the NHS.

The changes will better support the recovery of NHS services, address waiting list backlogs, and support hardworking staff, all while driving forwards an ambitious agenda of digital transformation and progress.

• Following the merger, NHS Digital as a separate arms-length body of the Department for Health and Social Care will cease to exist.
• NHS Digital staff and assets will all transfer to NHS England before going through the wider “Creating a New NHS England” change programme which will ensure we retain the necessary talent and expertise of NHS Digital.
• We set out in Data Saves Lives how data will be used to improve care for patients and service users, outlining how we will ensure that the benefits and lessons learned from the response to COVID-19 are realised for the longer-term. The strategy including building the right foundations to achieve this – and one key action is to bring together NHS Digital and NHS England, to provide a single statutory body for data, digital and technology.

The children learnt about the impact of plastic pollution on our oceans and created beautiful pieces of artwork from plastic waste collected from the beach.

The workshop aimed to use art to connect with young people and raise awareness of the issue, changing behaviours towards plastic pollution, and protecting the marine biodiversity in Solomon Islands.

Supported by the British High Commission together with the British Council New Zealand and Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands, students aged between 9 to 11 years, worked remotely with renowned UK artist Mandy Barker to create pieces of artwork made from everyday plastics.

Mandy who helped guide the children through the creative art workshop said:

I’m humbled to think I might have made a difference on the other side of the world. Never in my wildest dreams. It makes what I do worthwhile when you can see the results. Thank you for letting me facilitate the workshop to inform them of the issue. It only takes one child to be inspired to become an ambassador for the environment and try to make changes.

The children’s artwork was on display at the Dreamcast Theatre Art Hub in Honiara for public viewing until Friday 21 October 2022.

Acting British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Nicola Noble described the event as a real success. She said:

It’s wonderful to see the positive impact this unique workshop has had on the children who participated. The Oceans and Plastics workshop is a result of a successful collaboration between the British High Commission in Honiara together with the British Council in New Zealand and Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands. I would like to acknowledge the children from Perch, Koloale, Tuvarufu, Coronation and the Honiara Integrated Community School for their participation as well as their parents and teachers for permitting them to attend and learn about this important issue.

Speaking at the art exhibition event on Tuesday, 18 October in the afternoon, Minister of Education and Human Resources Development, Hon. Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada said:

This exhibition is lifelong learning for our young children, who have demonstrated their creativity, teamwork, ownership of their environment and most importantly to become responsible and environmental friendly citizens. Our life on the islands depends on the ocean, we are the ocean and we must at all costs influence others to keep our environment plastic free.

On behalf of the Government and the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, I sincerely thank the British High Commission, British Council New Zealand and the Pacific and Dreamcast theatre for taking this initiative to work with our selected schools and their students and teachers. Parents should be proud of their children, as these wonderful children have demonstrated outstanding artwork, in the hope to promote our ocean and plastics and the impacts and consequences of plastic waste.

Director of British Council New Zealand and the Pacific Natasha Beckman was in Honiara for the two-day workshop and art exhibition and said she was very pleased to have achieved so much in so little time. She said:

It was wonderful to see the creativity of the children and the pride they had in their work when showing it to their teachers and parents. From the two days, I hope the children have been inspired to use art and culture to raise awareness of global problems.

Congratulations to all who attended the UK-Pacific Oceans and Plastics workshop. It was a fantastic two-day event, filled with fun and creativity at the Dreamcast Theatre Art Hub in China Town, Honiara. The students’ artworks were displayed to their parents and teachers as well as the Minister of Education and Human Resources Development and other guests.

Rickson Bau | Press & Public Affairs Officer

British High Commission Honiara, Phone: (+677) 21705 Ext. 2004, Mobile: (+677) 8434221

Email: bhc.honiara@fcdo.gov.uk

Natasha Beckman | Director Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific

British Council New Zealand and Pacific, Mobile: +64 (0) 21 1991044

Email: natasha.beckman@britishcouncil.org

Website: www.britishcouncil.org.nz

Neil Nuia | Creative Director

Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands, Mobile: (+677) 7875166,

Website: https://www.dreamcastsolomons.com/

Social media: Facebook