The Data Reform Bill: A Vital Opportunity for Smarter, More Connected Healthcare
As the UK prepares for the final version of the Data Use and Access (DUA) framework formerly the “Data Protection and Digital Information Bill” all eyes are on how it will reshape the data landscape across industries, especially healthcare.
While, the earlier draft faced criticism for creating potential conflict with the EU’s GDPR, risking duplication of compliance efforts for UK-based organisations, encouragingly, this revised version appears to take a more balanced approach, aligning more closely with GDPR while allowing space for innovation and regulatory divergence.
This Matters: A Lot
Smart technologies have already begun transforming healthcare delivery across the UK. From Electronic Health Records (EHRs) that improve communication and safety, to remote patient monitoring and AI-driven diagnostics, digital transformation is no longer theoretical it’s operational. Yet, much of this potential is still throttled by legacy data frameworks and fragmented access protocols. If this new bill truly supports more agile and secure data use, it could unlock new levels of integration and innovation across the NHS.
At gravity9, we work directly with NHS trusts and healthcare providers to modernize legacy systems and introduce AI-driven solutions that are both impactful and sustainable. We collaborate with frontline clinicians, IT teams and transformation leads to co-design tools that solve practical problems whether that’s using automation to free up clinician time, deploying real-time analytics to optimize care pathways, or enhancing triage with machine learning. We believe technology should support, not replace, people, and our partnerships are built on trust, evidence, and long-term value.
The new DUA must avoid unnecessary bureaucracy without compromising security and instead promote responsible innovation fostering collaboration, streamlining compliance, and enabling data sharing across care pathways.
In the long run, this is about more than governance, it’s about making healthcare more responsive, personalized, and sustainable. If we get this right, the DUA could become a powerful enabler of AI-driven, data-rich transformation that genuinely supports patients and clinicians alike.
Our Key Takeaways
- Better alignment with GDPR could reduce compliance burden and enable innovation across health tech providers working internationally.
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and smart data sharing improve coordination, reduce risk, and support safer, faster care.
- AI-powered insights enable more proactive care, reduce clinician admin time, and drive operational efficiency.
- Remote monitoring and virtual consultations are increasing access and convenience for patients especially in rural or underserved areas.
- A more flexible regulatory framework could support broader use of automation and machine learning to address NHS workforce shortages.
- Failing to get this right risks stifling innovation, deterring investment, and undermining the digital transformation agenda.
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