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NHS: Databases

Asked by Ian ByrneLabourDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 16 April 2026UIN 123742

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of concerns raised by the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee regarding the outsourcing of NHS data infrastructure to a single overseas technology provider; and what steps have been taken to mitigate systemic data security risks arising from that arrangement.

Answered by Dr Zubir Ahmed

Data infrastructure in the National Health Service is not outsourced to a single provider, as the NHS makes use of a variety of technology providers, including hyper-scalers. Contracts include specific provisions to ensure the security of personal data.

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