Using OPTICAL data
We outline our legal basis for collecting and using data, and the types of information we hold to support research and service improvement.
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OPTICAL is funded by the NIHR [Health and Social Care Delivery Research Researcher-led call 22/117 (NIHR156314)]. The views expressed are those of the researcher(s) and not necessarily those of the the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
What is our legal basis for using data?
- To analyse pre-existing health data, we applied for ‘section 251 approval’ which was reviewed by the Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG). CAG is an independent group of lay people and professionals which provides expert advice on the use of confidential patient information without consent.
- Participants in the interviews will provide consent.
- For the surveys, consent will be inferred by completion.
- Participants in online forums will provide consent by joining the forum.
What information will we hold?
- The audit and national data we will apply for includes data on treatment, diagnoses and outcomes from paediatric intensive care, adult intensive care and other hospital stays and follow up appointments
- This means that all your information will be kept private and UCL will not know your name, date of birth, or address.
- Your health data and any interview and survey answers will be kept on secure, password protected servers at UCL and GOSH.
- If you have taken part in the interviews, we will only hold your contact details with your consent.
- All the data used by the OPTICAL study will have any information that might let people know who you are taken out and replaced by a study ID number.
For further information on the data we are collecting and why, see: