Newcastle PSRC: Improving Patient Safety with Data by Anum Iqbal Newcastle PSRC Research Assistant

Newcastle Patient Safety Research Collaborative  

In the evolving landscape of modern healthcare, increased life expectancies, intricate dynamics of multimorbidity and disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, healthcare professionals face the challenge in optimising treatment whilst minimising risks to patient safety. The Newcastle Patient Safety Research Collaborative (PSRC) sets out to work across national networks aiming to improve patient safety by focusing research on service delivery, transitions between care settings, clinical decision making and patient safety behaviour, with a key emphasis on reducing safety inequalities in health care. The PSRC network will serve as a platform for national connectivity between key stakeholders such as NHS England, NIHR Infrastructures, Charities, Industry, and other partners.

Impact of accessing data

Data are a key driver in providing researchers a platform to conduct ground-breaking research, and in turn supporting healthcare professionals in improving the delivery of patient care and safety. The NHS have set out a recent strategy aiming to use data more effectively, to improve patient care and save lives. With this escalating drive on using patient data for ground-breaking research, it is paramount that it is dealt with in a safe and ethical manner.  Therefore, the Department of Health and Social Care have been working with NHS England in investing in a data sharing system to allow for NHS data to be accessed on a shared platform, leading to the development of the Secure Data Environment (SDE). The SDE plays a fundamental role in dealing with NHS data in a sensitive manner but still allowing for it to play a pivotal part in research.

Why is this valuable to members of the public?

Having access to NHS data will enable us to address many issues that can affect both the general population and smaller populations groups in insistences of rare conditions. NHS data are reflective of the current population, offering great diversity and relevancy. These data can be used by researchers to better help understand diseases and identify lifesaving treatment. It also allows for current NHS services to be audited and analysed for quality improvement.

Working in partnership

Steve Lucas – Senior Delivery Manager, NECS

Recently, the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Secure Data Environment (SDE) Project Support Service (PSS) has teamed up with the PSRC to improve patient safety research efforts. This collaboration is not just about data access—it is about shared goals. Through monthly meetings between the NENC SDE PSS and the PSRC's research teams we can collectively discuss research objectives and pinpoint data needs, ensuring a tailored approach to supporting the PSRC's objectives. This partnership is not just confined to regional boundaries. With the Newcastle PSRC acting as a national nexus, connections are forged with key stakeholders across the healthcare spectrum. This broader network enriches the collaboration, fostering knowledge exchange and amplifying the impact of research efforts. In essence, the synergy between the NENC SDE PSS and the Newcastle PSRC has allowed for us to pool resources and expertise, to advance patient safety research, paving the way for a brighter, safer healthcare future for all.

Significant steps

As a PSRC, we have collaborated closely with NENC SDE PSS in developing the SDE and to secure access to critical data that will enable us to address significant questions directly related to patient safety. This opportunity has been an exciting opportunity and with a diverse range of skills and clinical backgrounds, as a team, we recognise data can play a pivotal role in our research, especially in understanding how pressing issues are affecting people within the region.

Next steps

Currently, this platform is in the initial phase of being set up. Numerous meetings have taken place, involving the research team, NENC SDE PSS and other key partners, to understand how data will be utilised and to ensure the upmost confidentiality of sensitive information.  We are now in the final stages of securing approval for access to key datasets.