The University of Sheffield’s Data Connect service recently hosted a hybrid event to demonstrate how they are connecting researchers with health, social care and sensitive data and enabling research that improves lives.
The team were joined by Professor Sue Hartley OBE and guest speakers who are driving digital and data transformation and innovation across the health sector.
Simplifying Access to Complex Datasets
Rosie Gough, the Senior Project Manager, explained the service objective:
We identified three key areas that are challenging for researchers: fragmentation of data, information governance and security requirements. Data Connect has a very straightforward mission – help to simplify access to health and social care data for researchers.
Connecting to the Regional Ecosystem
Guest speakers provided valuable insights into topics such as the national health data infrastructure and the ethical use of unconsented health data research. Dr Phil Waywell placed the service within the broader national and regional landscape, emphasising its partnership with the Yorkshire & Humber Secure Data Environment (SDE).
To build the best SDE, we knew we had to be more than one organisation. Our work requires a whole package of expertise…Data Connect is your direct route into the national health data research network and its funding programs.
Impactful Case Studies
The session featured case studies that demonstrate how researchers have already utilised Data Connect to efficiently plan, apply for, and access research-ready data. For example, the Smart-Health project, which will combine Connected South Yorkshire (ConSY) data (co-produced by the South Yorkshire ICB and Data Connect) and data from smartphones and wearables to help researchers predict future complications after a heart attack. And Professor Chris Burton shared how his research team took a ‘big picture, big data’ approach to complex problems—like analysing over two million emergency department (ED) attendances to find patterns in high users.
Accredited Security and Support
Data Connect operates an accredited, cloud-based environment (ISO27001, NHS DSPT, and CyberEssentials+ accredited) to provide secure, single-point access to sensitive health and social care data. The service offers comprehensive support throughout the research lifecycle, including:
- Information governance and ethics
- Data extraction and transformation
- Data management and statistical disclosure
To learn more about accessing the secure environment and the service that simplifies access to complex datasets, please contact YHSDE@bthft.nhs.uk