Over the past year, the Department for Health and Social Care has increased its budget for data personnel to £5.37m. A Freedom of Information request revealed that 97 personnel report to the department’s chief data officer, with an additional 26 individuals having “data” in their job title. The total salary spend on data personnel for the year was £5.7m, a significant increase from the previous year.
The department did not provide further comment due to the pre-election period, and subsequent requests have gone unanswered. Ataccama, an AI-powered data management provider, emphasized the importance of investing in data skills for healthcare to improve patient outcomes and safety.
The DHSC’s investment in data science personnel follows similar moves by other government departments, such as HM Revenue and Customs and HM Treasury. This recognition of the value of data scientists and digital skills is crucial for driving operational efficiencies and growth in both public and private sectors.
Experts agree that building up technology capabilities is essential for the incoming government, as skilled data experts can streamline projects and drive success in public services. Providing training and career progression opportunities for civil servants will lead to increased productivity and efficiency across public health services.