Better to deliver clinical data repository for Digital Health and Care Wales

Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) has awarded a two-year contract to Better to develop a clinical data repository.

Formerly known as the Wales Informatics Service, DHCW is hoping the data storage system will support more specialised treatments and power critical research.

Using an open-platform approach, the repository will enable patient information to be shared across systems and geographical locations and marks the first step towards the standardisation of clinical data across the country.

The Better platform was chosen following an 18-month review process and the first phase of the repository will involve helping to accelerate the standardisation of clinical data to support the deployment of new services such as the national cancer programme and the shared medications repository.

The new repository will also enable NHS Wales to gain insight on data by exposing the data to the new tools and services being used by the National Data Resource.

Rob Jones, chief architect at Digital Health and Care Wales, said: “We know that we need to deliver a single source of truth for structured clinical data. Simply, providing instant access to patient data, at the fingertips of healthcare decision makers. Using an agile approach, underpinned by an open platform with separating applications and data, will allow us to deliver new digital services to clinicians and citizens of Wales, faster.”

The first phase of the two-year contract will see the treatment repository for cancer and welsh adverse reactions service go live in autumn 2021.

Matthew Cox, managing director of Better for the UK and Ireland, added: “We are delighted Digital Health and Care Wales chose the Better platform to manage the clinical data which will enable the acceleration of the delivery of digital services.

“The platform will enable rapid innovation to take place in the applications, all without altering the underlying data structure. This will lead to better provision of care and better patient experiences – a core objective of all national health services.”