Plans to share more coronavirus data with councils

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has outlined measures to increase testing and support the NHS this winter, including more local authority powers.

Following criticism from councils over a lack of data being shared with them, Hancock said he would share more data at a local level, saying that, when properly used, ‘data is one of the best epidemiological weapons that we have’.

The Health Secretary said that, since June, local directors of public health have had ‘postcode-level’ data about outbreaks in their area, but the government is now going further and ‘we are putting enhanced levels of data in the hands of local directors of public health too’.

Paulette Hamilton, vice chair of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “We are pleased the government has heard our call for patient identifiable data to be provided on a daily basis, alongside other information. This will help give the level of detail needed for councils’ directors of public health and their teams to track down and isolate future flare-ups, to stop them spreading even further.

“Councils need all the tools at their disposal to help with locating and preventing future local outbreaks of coronavirus in their communities. They already have extensive experience of using this type of data across a range of local services, including on how to handle this sensitively and carefully.

“Councils’ public health teams also remain ready to use their unique expertise, including speaking other languages, and understanding of their communities to try to reach those who cannot be contacted by the test and trace system. They need information on who they should be trying to contact, including people who could not be reached by the system itself. With the right powers, flexibilities, data and long-term funding, councils can help to manage potential outbreaks and prevent the spread of infection.”