Case Studies

For a novel study looking at the connections between energy poverty and preschool respiratory infections, we have played a key role in fostering additional partnerships to expand the project and achieve greater real-world impact.

To enhance the care of frail patients, we have worked in close collaboration with the NHS to develop an innovative data dashboard, now accessible to all GP practices across the Lothian region.

In 2024, we played a key role in bringing complementary services together to greatly improve the support available for those at risk of experiencing homelessness.

The primary care data from GPs that are hosted by the DataLoch service provide huge opportunities for population-level observation research on large cohorts, as well as for NHS service management and service improvement. However, the data can be tricky to use and there are many complexities and subtleties that are useful to be aware of.

Clinical free-text data (typed notes from medical practitioners) is a treasure trove that constitutes 70% to 80% of health information, but often remains inaccessible for research purposes. Through our efforts at DataLoch, we aim to revolutionise health research, and ultimately patient care, by creating a pathway for data access which preserves patient confidentiality.

As part of our March 2023 update, we focused on developing a portfolio of lifestyle data – such as Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements and smoking status – in a format that can be more easily utilised by researchers. Through the example of alcohol-consumption data, we explain some of the new possibilities, as well as the difficulties encountered and resolved along the way.

In light of the COVID-19 crisis, in March 2020 colleagues from NHS Lothian and the University of Edinburgh asked the DataLoch team to help in the production of a dedicated COVID-19-linked dataset. This request was motivated by a need to support immediate hospital-based service management and to provide a foundation for active and anticipated regional and national research into the outbreak.