The funding comes from a bursary scheme subsidized by Health and Care Research Wales and the Centre for Improvement in Population Health through E-records Research (CIPHER), one of the four co-ordinating centres of the Farr Institute, and has equipped the ten professionals with the essential skills needed to manage and analyse data within the NHS.

The NHS holds a wealth of data which can be used to better understand patients as well as to inform decision making, performance and service innovation.  However, the right knowledge, skills, and understanding are needed in order to make best use of this data.

The MSc in Health Data Science, run by Health Informatics Group’s teaching team at Swansea University Medical School, is designed for healthcare professionals and those working with data, and offers an integrated programme of studies tailored to the essential skill set required for Data Scientists operating within healthcare organisations. The course, which can be studied full or part-time, covers key topics in:

• Scientific Computing and Health Care
• Health Data Modelling
• Health Data Visualisation
• Machine learning in Healthcare
• Analysis of key linked Health Data.

Richard Thomas, All Wales Cardiac Informatics Manager, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, commented: “The MSc Health Data Science programme has allowed me to develop my role within the Health Board utilising the skills and learning around health data modelling and linked data analysis to enhance existing data reporting within Cardiac Services across Wales.”

Professor Ronan Lyons, Clinical Professor of Public Health and Director of the Farr Institute Swansea University, added: “Health Data Science is a fast growing area of importance to the NHS and we are delighted to have supported NHS staff to be able to gain the skills needed to work effectively and confidently with health data.  Making meaningful analytical use of data has the potential to help the NHS make better decisions across the board.”

For more information on the MSc Health Data Science course click here.