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. A crucial part of DataLoch’s work is its focus on making data research-ready as well as directly supporting NHS services.

DataLoch’s latest major development sees the launch of the DataLoch Heart Disease Registry to substantially advance their support for cardiovascular research. This offering sits alongside Respiratory, Cancer, and COVID registries in pre-defining critical data.

Other data improvements include new hospital prescribing data, and a simplified approach for applicants to select laboratory-testing data.

Based on feedback from researchers and members of the public, DataLoch has also refreshed its website. There are now new Case Study and Publication sections that highlight some of the benefits of the DataLoch service.

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.

By putting data at the centre of responses to health and care system challenges – through research, innovation, and planning – DataLoch aims to support improvements to frontline services and, ultimately, the outcomes for those accessing them.

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

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