In this section
NHS England planning guidance sets out the expectation that all NHS organisations should use the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) to help support the delivery of patient care and operational services.
The FDP brings together operational data from different NHS systems in a secure environment to support clinical decision-making, service planning and day-to-day operational management.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) remains the data controller for all information in the FDP and uses the platform in line with strict information governance requirements. The FDP supplier can only act under NHS instruction.
At MFT, the following FDP products are currently in use or being implemented in line with this national requirement, helping our teams manage waiting lists, coordinate diagnostics and improve theatre utilisation, among other uses:
- Demand and Capacity Incubator – a tool that helps us uMFT and the NHS Federated Data Platform
nderstand patient demand and match it with available staff, beds and clinics so services run more smoothly - Equipment Management Incubator (including loan equipment management at Trafford) – a system to track medical equipment, including items loaned to patients, so it is used safely and returned when no longer needed
- Inpatient CCS (theatre scheduling 6-4-2 model) – a system that helps plan and schedule operations in theatres to make the best use of available time and reduce cancellations
- Single Queue Diagnostics Pathway – a single waiting list for diagnostic tests (such as scans), so patients are seen based on clinical priority rather than where they were referred
- Personalised Stratified Follow-Up (PSFU) – an approach that tailors follow-up care to patient need, allowing some patients to initiate follow-up themselves rather than attend routine appointments
For further information about the FDP, including questions and answers, please visit the NHS England website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/federated-data-platform-fdp-questions-and-answers