DataLoch: enabling improvements in health and social care

DataLoch is a data service that has been developed by the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian to bring together routine data collected as part of people's day-to-day interactions with health and social care services.

DataLoch works with data in several ways: collaborating with clinicians to improve data quality; linking datasets – across primary and secondary care – to enable broad insights; and maintaining a high-quality metadata catalogue with the support of NHS expertise.

Together, the DataLoch partnership believes that putting data at the centre of responses to health and care system challenges – through research, innovation, and planning – will improve frontline services and, ultimately, the outcomes for those accessing them.

Summary of the data hosted by DataLoch 

Go behind the scenes

A crucial part of DataLoch’s work is its focus on making data research-ready. Among the most recent developments is the curation of lifestyle data – smoking, diet, exercise, etc – across different sources (e.g. GP codes, hospital records) to offer a single overview. This effort reduces the requirement for each individual project team to explore these lifestyle data and make sense of the ‘messiness’ independently.

Other current initiatives include: understanding the risks associated with the sharing of free-text data for research; collaborating with researchers to better understand later life through data; and developing semi-automated process solutions that streamline decision-making.

Go behind the scenes at DataLoch 

Accessing the DataLoch service

For potential data access, the DataLoch team works with researchers to understand the purpose and technical requirements of their projects. Our approvals process involves NHS and public panel members, with every application being carefully scrutinised. After approval, de-identified data extracts are accessed and analysed within the DataLoch secure data environment.

To find out more or discuss possible project proposals, contact the DataLoch team