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New social licence launched to support use of healthcare data in Kent and Medway

A new social licence has launched  to guide how health and care organisations in Kent and Medway use and protect public data.

"Our Data, For Our Good: How we use your information to help us all" , a lso known as the Kent and Medway Social Licence,  has been  co-designed  by the  NHS Kent and Medway Digital and Data Involvement Group  and digital and data leaders,  to  make sure  the views of  people and communities fe e d directly into  the  development of projects on  data.  

The  five principles have been adopted by the  Kent and Medway Integrated Care System (ICS)  and set the standard for responsible and transparent use of health data in Kent and Medway.  

Co-designing the social licence   

Members of the Digital and Data Involvement Group standing together and smiling

Image: Digital and Data Involvement Group members.

The Kent and Medway Digital and Data Involvement Group  was set up in April 2025 , bringing together local and diverse  voices  to support the co-design  and co-production  of the social licen c e.  

Two in-person workshops were held in May and June 2025, followed by additional  virtual workshops throughout the year.  

Over 50 people were involved, including  digital and data  leads  from health and care organisations, Kent County Council, Social Enterprise Kent, Healthwatch Medway, Healthwatch Kent, Rethink MIND, Nigerian Association  and  Youth  Ngage  Kent .  

Mayur Vibhuti, chief clinical information officer, NHS Kent and Medway, said:   “Data has become one of the most valuable tools we have in improving peoples' health and wellbeing. It helps us see patterns, plan services, and understand what works, but  it's  also deeply personal.  That's  why trust and transparency must sit at the heart of how we use it.  

“ Our communities want to know how their information is being used and how it can  benefit  them. The Kent and Medway Social Licence is our commitment to being open, honest, and accountable empowering people to have choice, confidence, and control. ”  

Michelle Gardener , chair of the digital and data involvement group, said: “It i s significant that our communities have co-designed the principles. A social licence lays the foundation for trust and confidence in how data is handled and used.  

“That means these principles must go beyond light-touch definitions on a page and directly shape how the system acts in practice; ensuring people are actively informed, respected and given clear information around their rights and choices.” 

“ We recognise the commitment of our digital and data involvement group, our digital citizens - whose energy and insights have ensured that the voices of our communities of Kent and Medway entered the room with us and have been both, amplified and reflected in this work."  

Isabel Clark, s trategic community partnerships and insight lead  for Health Innovation Kent, Surrey and Sussex , said:  “Working with people and communities through a co-production approach with the Digital and Data  Involvement Group  has  greatly enhanced  the use of data in  Kent and Medway .  

“The launch of Our Data, for Our Good marks the beginning of a long-term effort to build public trust in the use of health and care data, focusing on trust, consent, and  confidence.   

“As the use of NHS health data continues to grow, we will continue to ensure community voices are central to how data is used in  Kent and Medway .”

Read the Social Licence methodology:  From Data to Trust Community Voices in Kent Medway and Sussex Social Licence Methodology.docx [docx] 196KB.

NHS Kent and Medway Social Licence  

Principle 1: Listening to communities  

  • We will make sure  local people  are at the  heart  of making decisions on use of  data .   

  • We will speak with local people regularly about this.

  • We want local people to feel  respected  and  involved  in data use.   

Principle 2: Honest and clear  

  • We will be as  honest  and  clear  as possible about how data is used.   

  • We will tell you what you need to know on  who  is using data, why, and how.   

  • We will tell you  how  data use helps you and  local residents .   

  • We only use data for  specific reasons  and will tell you if this  changes .   

Principle 3: Keeping data safe  

  • We will use the most up to date and  robust security measures  to protect people's data. We will explain what we do to protect people's data. If something goes wrong, we will explain what happened and how we will  fix  it.   

  • We expect all organisations such as non-NHS organisations to follow the same  high standards . People (not just computers) will always check how data is  used,  this includes the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).  

Principle 4: Your choice  

  • We will tell you about your  rights  and  choices  when it comes to using your data.   

  • We will explain what  happens  if you choose to say  no  (opt out) to data use, and we will do this in a fair and honest way -  without trying to pressure you .   

  • We  respect  that people want  more control  over how their health data is used.  

Principle 5: Fair and correct data  

  • We agree to use data in a fair and equal way,  listening  to  concerns  people may have around data use, this includes people who have  poorer health outcomes .   

  • We will tell you about your rights, the risks, and the  benefits  of data use.   

  • We will  work hard  to keep data  correct  and up to date. We will also urge people to check their own records to make sure their data is right.   

  • Everyone - along with staff and the public - shares the job of making sure  data  is  correct.

Watch: https://youtu.be/FsOdeoapWhg.

Posted on at by Maizie Wood