Health and Social Care Data Board minutes: February 2026

Attendees and apologies

Chair

• Carol Sinclair (CS)

Board members

• CA
• Colin Birchenall (CB)
• Jonathan Cameron (JC)
• JD
• ED
• MG
• Roger Halliday (RH)
• Scott heald (SH) 
• Karen Hedge (KH)
• CK
• AK
• MM
• Eilidh McLaughlin (EM)
• Nicola Steadman (NS)

Programme team

• RA
• SC
• RG
• GW

In Attendance

• TB
• MEB
• CB
• CC
• RD
• DG
• SR
• CR

Apologies

• TG
• FL
• LH
• AW
• AWo

Items and actions

Welcome, Introductions and Apologies.

Carol Sinclair welcomed everyone to the Health and Social Care Data Board, noting the assumption that pre-circulated papers had been read and the focus of this meeting is on key points and strategic advice.

Carol welcomed:

TB - Senior Research Manager – Scottish Government – Item 3.

CB - Strategic Data Policy Adviser – Scottish Government – attended to support Roger Halliday – Item 4

CR - Project Manager – Local Government Digital Office and Richard Dobbie - Information Consultant – Public Health Scotland – Item 7

CC - Senior Policy Officer – Scottish Government and Stuart Roebuck - Principal System Architect – Scottish Government, attended as observers

Apologies were noted from TG, LH, FL, AWo and AW.

DG attended on behalf of FL and MEB attended on behalf of LH

 

Minutes, Action Log and Policy update

The Board noted:

• Minutes from the meeting held on 18 November 2025 are published on our website

1 outstanding action from November meeting:

• DHC DB 144 - Scott Heald to share the results of the survey to capture user needs across the system for adults receiving social care.

Policy Updates and Sub-Board flash reports were shared with board members prior to the meeting.

Ryan Anderson provided an update regarding publication of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Framework, advising that publication will be delayed until after the election period to allow for engagement with unions.

 

Health Data Research Service

Carol Sinclair invited TB and Roger Halliday to present an overview of the Health Data Research Service (HDRS).

The overview covered:

The background and aims of HDRS specifically in relation to its ambitions, potential benefits for Scotland, core capabilities and working principles.

The board was asked:

• to provide comments on the working principles and on Data Board engagement regarding considerations about HDRS going forward
• to note the developments

The board discussed:

• the importance of the public engagement principles and ensuring that Scotland maintains public trust re use of data as part of the UK wider service.
• The differing capabilities across four nations, readiness assessment will be undertaken to ensure
• The potential risks and challenges around data sharing agreements and standardisation of processes

The board acknowledged the overview

Private sector data access to public sector data: an operational framework

Carol Sinclair invited Roger Halliday to present the operational framework for private sector access to public sector data.

The presentation covered:

Background and purpose of the operational framework and its principles-based approach, engagement to date and next steps.

The board was asked:

• to provide feedback on the draft operational framework, the engagement and communications plan

The board discussed:

• the importance of testing whether the framework truly provides a clear and faster process for industry access to data applying

• the framework across to social care and wider local authority data
• the need for clear use cases to explain the outcomes of public sector data being used for private sector research which will help build and maintain trust and confidence across the sector  

CB provided an overview of how the Unlocking the value of data programme has input into this framework which included:

• a brief background of the UVoD programme
• how working together in a co-creative, iterative space can maximise the value for users
• how the UVoD programme can draw on the insights from the practical application of the framework
• future engagement with the public to contribution into the processes for UVoD and the framework

Next steps:

Roger Halliday to arrange a follow up with Karen Hedge to consider what the operational framework means for independent sector care providers.

Board members and Programme team to provide feedback by COP Friday 27th Feb 2026.

European Health Data Space

Carol Sinclair invited GW to present an overview of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

The overview covered:

• the secure, interoperable sharing and reuse of health data for both primary and secondary purposes
• relevance to data standards including technical specifications
• what EHDS means for Scotland

The board was asked:

• to provide views on whether Scotland should seek to align with EHDS
• for views on the feasibility and impact of alignment with EHDS

The board discussed:

• Scotland not aligning to the EHDS could risk loss of competitiveness as international research organisations may be attracted/prioritise countries with larger and more co-ordinated datasets
• members were generally supportive of aligning with principles of EHDS as it clearly aligns with ambitions of Data Strategy 
• although there were some concerns raised in regard to the scope, ambition and scale of the programme, noting Scotland’s readiness and existing challenges in relation to lack of interoperability of health and care data
• the need to ensure the technical platforms and standards implemented align the UK
• the uncertainty of the governance as the Data Board do not hold continuing oversight responsibility
• it was noted that Scotland cannot join the UHDS independently of the UK
• The need to understand how this interacts with both Scotland’s and England’s Electronic Patient Record plans alongside NHS digital programme

Nest steps:

GW to consider further engagement with stakeholders in health and care including Integrated Joint Boards, Local Authorities, Health and Social Care Partnership’s Chief Officers and Chief Finance Officer’s as well as Scotland Excel for awareness and expectations of what this could mean in practice to the whole health and social care eco-system

GW to seek approval from digital leads before formally approaching the UK Government on this topic

Data Stratgey Update

Carol Sinclair invited RA and SC to present an overview of the latest developments with the Data Strategy and its associated deliverables.

The presentation covered:

an overview of progress made to date, reflecting on the collective achievements, areas of concern and next steps for the data strategy

The board was asked:

• to comment on the progress made on deliverables of the Data Strategy to date
• to provide feedback on what more information you need, or what activity you would like to see, to be assured that the Data Strategy is progressing in a satisfactory manner. 

The board discussed

• the benefit of having a risk register to help provide an understanding of deliverables that are progressing as expected versus those that are not
• Importance of demonstrating the impact that delivery of the Data Strategy deliverables has had on the sector and being able to demonstrate this to the public to showcase benefits – this would also provide the opportunity to share wider progress and impact of deliverables that are not fully completed
• The need to understand interdependencies between deliverables
• The need to undertake a development session to consider evaluation of the Strategy and reflect on what we have achieved, current context, review priorities for now and future and consider how to align with wider strategic priorities before completing a refresh at a later date
• The board generally supported the need to refresh the deliverables and our approach to prioritisation - particularly aligning that to SRF/PHS/OIP.

Next Steps:

RA, GW and SC to consider feedback received and possibility of hosting a development session to address feedback and next steps for the Data Strategy.

 

CHI in Local Government

Carol Sinclair invited CR and RG to provide an overview of the plans for the implementation of CHI in Local Government.

The overview covered:

The purpose of implementing CHI in Local Government including methodology and benefits of implementation, identifying early adopter projects, development of a play book, scope, timescales, dependencies and risks.

Current thinking is new referrals for social care, hospital admissions and hospital discharge likely to gain most benefit from implementing CHI

The board was asked:

• to note the current direction and progress of the programme
• to provide feedback on the tasks identified for the next 6 months including those that should be prioritised
• to note the alignment with Digital Front Door, Digital Health & Care Record and Social Care Data and Intelligence transformation workstreams

The board discussed:

• Should early adopters be considered in older peoples support and care
• Worth considering wider projects during dev session so stakeholders can understand wider priorities within the system and what they can do to help
• a shift of language from CHI being referred to as a “common identifier” to the “primary identifier”
• the need to share the learning with other programmes such as MyCare, Shared ARC and Telecare

Next Steps:

CR, RG and RD to consider the comments with the next iteration of the plan for CHI in Local Government.

Any Other Business

SC to circulate DDSB flash report and an update on progress of Information Governance Plan

Next Data Board Meeting:

Tuesday 26 May 2026 – 13:00 to 16:00