The Applied Research Collaboration Kent Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS) Data Science Lead, Dr Liz Ford recently co-chaired a national workshop at the Wellcome Collection in London as part of the DARE UK “SAFETEXT” Working Group, a programme focused on developing guidelines for the safe and responsible use of de-identified and synthetic free-text healthcare data in Artificial Intelligence (AI) research.
Around 80% of NHS clinical information sits in unstructured notes, letters and reports - data that is currently difficult to use for research. With £100k in funding over the next year, led by Professor Goran Nenadic at the University of Manchester, the SAFETEXT team is working to design information-governance protocols that could support the secure, ethical use of this rich but sensitive data.
The first workshop brought together 30 information-governance specialists, data providers, researchers and members of the public from across the UK to review current practice and begin shaping nationally implementable protocols. A second event will follow in Brighton in June, where draft recommendations will be shared for wider feedback.
Dr Liz Ford, said: “There is enormous research potential locked within NHS free-text data, but it’s essential that we move forward in a way that protects patient privacy and earns public trust. This workshop marked a really important step in co-designing practical, nationally consistent information-governance approaches that will enable safe and responsible innovation.”
