Have your say on how your health data is shared

An online survey, which forms part of research led by the University of Cambridge, is asking for people’s views on how their health data should be shared across the NHS and used for research.

The Clinical Informatics for Mind and Brain Health (CLIMB) study is using an online survey to investigate the public’s knowledge of how their health data is currently shared across the NHS, and their views on how it should be shared.

Healthcare and research

The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete, with the option to save your progress half way through and return to it later.

The questions ask how widely you would like identified health data (which includes personal information such as name and address) to be shared between NHS institutions such as GP surgeries and hospitals.

They also cover how you think de-identified data (where information that could identify you has been stripped out) should be shared for research. 

Mental health data

There is a particular focus on how mental health data should be shared, with many questions asking separately about preferences for physical and mental health data.

This is because previous research has suggested that people are more reluctant to consent to information on their mental health being shared.

Have your say

To take the survey, or to find out more about on this study, please visit the CLIMB website.

When asked where you heard about the study, please select the hospital option and choose Southampton General Hospital – University Hospital Southampton NHS FT.