A new animated video has been developed by NHS England and the Health and Social Care Information Centre to further raise awareness of how patient data are set to be collected and used to help improve care for all.

The video, “Better Information Means Better Care”, accompanies a leaflet of the same name that is currently being delivered to every household in England. These materials are part of a wide range of awareness-raising work that NHS England and the Health and Social Care Information Centre are doing to support GPs in ensuring their patients know about how data are used and the choices available to patients.

For decades, the NHS has been using information from health records for purposes other than providing direct care, for example to support research and to help plan new health services.

The animation presents a simple way for GPs and other NHS staff to explain why we need to upgrade our systems to collect information that is missing at the moment. By incorporating this missing information, we will obtain a much more rounded picture of the quality of care across the NHS and social care.

Dr Geraint Lewis, Chief Data Officer at NHS England, said: “NHS England is supporting GP practices in making patients aware of how their information is used to help improve care for all. This month, we are sending a leaflet to every household in England to help raise awareness and to explain to patients the choices that are available to them. It is important that we communicate this message in a range of different formats, so as well as the leaflet, we are using posters in GP practices, radio and TV interviews, press articles, and this new animation.

“Taken together, I think these communications will help improve patients’ understanding of how the NHS uses their information and the fact that they have a choice.”