Sharing data about patients between health and social care organisations and professionals, such as details of their medication, is essential to provide co-ordinated and person-centred care. While professionals can share data in a number of ways – for example, through shared electronic record systems or multidisciplinary team meetings – there are many factors that make sharing data across the health and social care boundary difficult. These include professional hierarchies, inaccessible electronic systems and concerns around confidentiality. Data-sharing is particularly important for the care of older people, as they are more likely to have multiple or long-term conditions; understanding is needed on how to enable effective data-sharing.
