Data Strategy Advisory Panel minutes February 2026

Date: Thursday 26 February 2026

Time: 2pm to 4pm

Venue: Teams (virtual)

Chair: Deputy Director - Data Policy Unit

Secretariat to share link to the September DSAP minutes once published.

Secretariat to circulate the Data Policy Strategy slide that the Chair presented and invite written comments (completed).

Secretariat to share the Data Communications narrative with DSAP members (completed).

Secretariat to share Financial Times article with attendees (completed).

Secretariat to schedule discussion of COPI regulation reform at a future meeting.

Secretariat to confirm date for the May in-person meeting (completed).

The Chair, Mary DeSilva, welcomed attendees to the meeting. There were no further comments on the minutes of the previous meeting and therefore these were agreed. 
 
Of the live actions, the action on a discussion on spending review was now closed. MDS provided an update on this: the Treasury (HMT) had allocated up to £10.5 billion across the Spending Review period (up to 2029/2030) for Digital/Data/Tech to deliver 10 Year Plan priorities. Ministers were now considering the eight broad business cases for digital and data that would dictate exactly how these funds are allocated. MDS promised an update once this process finished.

Members were invited by MDS to comment on the revised Terms of Reference (ToR).

Questions were raised regarding the practical arrangements for reviewing papers in advance of meetings. Members discussed the meaning of 'co-design' within the ToR and the need for greater clarity on how this would be operationalised. The Chair confirmed that, unless otherwise specified, papers could be shared more widely within members’ organisations to support internal engagement. Members asked for clarity as to whether they were participating in an individual capacity or were expected to represent their organisations. The Chair confirmed they were representing their organisations.

The Panel discussed potential additional membership. Suggestions included representation from the BMA, RCGP and NHS Alliance, as well as the devolved administrations. MDS noted that health policy is devolved and therefore the policies being discussed by the Panel were often relevant to England only, while recognising that research policy has UK-wide dimensions. Members also highlighted the potential relevance of health research authorities and existing governance structures, including links with pan-UK data governance groups and European initiatives such as the European Health Data Space.

Members emphasised the importance of constructive challenge and ensuring that perspectives reflecting genuine public concerns were represented. 

The Chair noted that the Panel was intended to function as an overarching external advisory group that focused on data strategy and high-profile data policies. The Chair also noted that we DHSC will be establishing sub-groups that will provide external advice on more detailed, specific issues such as opt-out reform and the programme of large-scale deliberations with the public and workforce. The Chair noted that discussions at these groups would periodically report into this Panel. Members agreed to this approach.

The Chair described the Joint Digital Policy Unit’s broad vision and strategy for the use of health data to improve patient care, service planning, and research. No substantive comments were raised by members during the meeting. The Chair invited members to provide any detailed feedback offline. The Secretariat would circulate the relevant papers to DSAP members following the meeting and invite written comments.

The Head of Communications and Deputy Head of Communications for the Joint Digital Policy Unit presented draft proposals for a data communications narrative.

Members emphasised the importance of testing the narrative with the public and discussed the need to ensure terminology was clear and consistent.

Members queried relative priorities as presented and highlighted the need to be more proactive in emphasising security, safeguards and protections. The Deputy Head of Communications noted that the messaging would be adapted depending on the intended audience.

The Panel also discussed the importance of grounding the narrative in the findings from DHSC’s large-scale public engagement. It was noted that a substantial body of evidence on public messaging in this area developed over recent years, and that the current approach should build on this.

Members also stressed the importance of close alignment between communications, policy and implementation. Messaging should reflect what could realistically be delivered and avoid over-promising, to maintain public trust.

Members noted the importance of maintaining a 'social licence' to using health data, as well as ensuring that all data use was legally compliant. Members suggested that transparency, involvement and demonstrable commitment to trustworthiness should be more explicitly woven into headline messages, potentially through a clearer statement of values.

The Head of Data Policy presented on proposed legislative changes that would be included in the forthcoming NHS Bill. 

Discussion focused primarily on the Single Patient Record, for which high-level provisions will be included in the Bill. Members felt strongly that clarity at the outset would be important in maintaining public trust. Members also raised the importance to public and parliamentary trust of providing as much detail as possible in the Bill.

Members also noted that implementation plans for the Single Patient Record must be sufficiently developed to ensure that what is set out in legislation can be delivered in practice and in step with the Bill’s progression.

The Head of Data Policy did not have the opportunity to discuss plans to update the Control of Patient Information (COPI) regulations (which are not dependent on the Bill). The Chair proposed that this be brought back for discussion at a future meeting.

The Panel noted the Government’s recent announcement about the Health and Growth Accelerator pilots, which will receive £25m in funding to help people with health conditions stay in and return to work. An article in the Financial Times about this contained several inaccuracies and mischaracterisations. The Joint Head of Data Strategy confirmed that any analysis would only ever be carried out on de-identified data and using similar methodologies to the previously published ONS studies (for example, into the impact of bariatric surgery and talking therapies on employment and earnings). 

Members were concerned about mixed messaging to the public, and the harm this would cause to wider policy objectives on health data. 

The Chair highlighted potential topics for future discussion, including the use of GP data and ethical considerations relating to data use. 

The next meeting would take place in mid-May 2026.