The 10-Year Health Plan commits £600 million to a Health Data Research Service and promises to make the NHS “the most AI-enabled health system in the world.” It envisions a single patient record, data-driven transformation, and technology that revolutionises the delivery of care. But while clinical data initiatives capture headlines, operational data already flows through the NHS at an extraordinary scale. This data can reveal where capacity exists before waiting lists grow and expose workforce stress before it leads to a collapse in retention. It also has the potential to reveal spending patterns that clinical datasets often fail to capture. In short, operational data frequently holds the keys to better care, a happier workforce and greater efficiency.
For example, in Norfolk & Waveney, creating a unified procurement catalogue with over one million standardised products revealed £7.3 million in savings that were previously invisible. This was because the same items were being purchased at different prices, because no one could see across the system. Workforce analytics, which process data from 1.8 million NHS employees, can now predict staff departures with 95% accuracy, showing a retention crisis months before trusts experience the impact on clinical capacity. Operational intelligence exists, yet these insights are too often trapped in fragmented systems and disconnected from strategic decisions about the NHS’s future.
In this webinar, we’ll explore what data infrastructure the NHS genuinely needs to deliver on its digital promises. How do we create a single source of truth for spend and resource allocation when standardised classifications don’t exist across the system? What governance models build public trust after past controversies? As the government explores plans to unlock the value of health data, what role should existing operational infrastructure play in shaping future strategy?
The conversation will be wide-ranging. It will examine where data-driven automation genuinely returns time to frontline teams and why corporate services must become the foundation for AI-ready data. These connections matter because data infrastructure isn’t a series of separate projects; it’s one cohesive system that either works together or fails in siloes.
Speakers
Cassie Smith is the Director of Legal, Trust and Ethics at Health Data Research UK. A qualified solicitor, she specialises in data protection, information governance, and the ethical use of health data in research. Cassie leads HDR UK’s strategy on building and maintaining public trust in the use of health data, ensuring legal and ethical standards are embedded across partnerships and initiatives. She brings extensive experience navigating complex legal and policy landscapes to support responsible, impactful data use at national and international levels.
Cassie trained at international law firm Dentons and qualified as a solicitor in 2009. She holds a Master’s Degree in Chemistry from Oxford University, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from The College of Law and a Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice from Oxford University. Prior to joining HDR UK, she was Senior Corporate Counsel at Amazon.
Jake Arnold-Forster is the Co-founder and CEO of Carradale Futures, an advisory firm focused on the healthcare sector. Jake’s career spans from journalism to management at EMAP. Joining Dr Foster in 2000, he helped publish Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratios. As Managing Director, he led a joint venture with the Health and Social Care Information Centre and became the first Chief Executive of Dr Foster Intelligence in 2005. Since 2009, Jake has supported health tech start-ups and consulted for various healthcare entities globally. In 2020, he co-founded Carradale Futures to enhance healthcare safety and value through standardisation and automation.
Robert is Head of Health & Social Care at techUK, the UK’s technology trade association, joining the team in October 2022.
Robert previously worked at the Pension Protection Fund, within the policy and public affairs team. Before this, he worked at the Scottish Parliament, advising politicians and industry stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including rural crime and health policies.
Robert has a degree in Politics and International Relations (MA Hons) from the University of Aberdeen, with a particular focus on strategic studies and energy security. Outside of work, he enjoys activities such as running, rugby, boxing and cooking!
Futureproofing the NHS webinar series
This is the third event in the Futureproofing the NHS webinar series, where leaders across the health system tackle the strategic and operational challenges that will determine the success of the 10-Year Health Plan. Each discussion contributes to a white paper that will document what the NHS needs to do to establish strong operational foundations for the decade ahead. The decisions being made now about data infrastructure, governance, and investment will shape healthcare delivery long into the future.
