I worked at the UK Data Service between 2010 and 2015, and it’s here that I gained a number of skills, including data acquisition; data documentation systems and metadata; data linkage; legal aspects of acquiring, managing and using data; data privacy issues and techniques, and IT and data access.
But most of all, what I learnt during my time at middle east rcs data the UK Data Service is the importance of wrapping these skills into a holistic package of what I’d now call ‘data stewardship’: nurturing data to a state of maturity so that analysts can fully use data and the benefits are felt by the public. The UK Data Service is one of a handful of organisations with a well-deserved international reputation for training people to take on these roles.
When it comes to population health, and how we manage it, the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has shone a bright light on the need for effective digital and data-driven technology. Whether it’s for contact-tracing efforts to slow down and prevent the spread of the disease, or to support the use of online technology for remote consultations, the need for effective technology has become a major priority.