Hello,
I am part of UKHSA, and we currently have a DBS connection enabled, allowing us to access templated data from PDS. I would like to know if it is possible to include two additional columns—Email Address and Contact Number—for bulk retrieval in our existing report.
- If this is possible, what is the process to enable these additional fields?
- If it is not possible, can we create a new data pipeline that includes Email Addresses and Contact Numbers for patient searches?
Looking forward to your guidance on the best approach.
Thanks for reaching out. Could you share more details on the use case for retrieving email addresses and contact numbers in bulk? Understanding the intended purpose will help us assess the feasibility and value of including these fields in your existing report or exploring alternative solutions.
Many thanks.
Hi Kitty,
Thanks for getting back to me. For one of the projects, the team receives laboratory reports containing patient information such as NHS number, address, and details of individuals infected and suspected to be infected with a particular disease (e.g., Dengue or Pathogen- related infections).
The goal is to merge this raw laboratory data with PDS to retrieve patients’ email addresses and contact numbers. This information will be used to send them a survey link, allowing them to provide additional details. Once response are received, the team will conduct further analysis.
Currently, the project team retrieves this information manually from the PDS using a point-of-care application. Each month, approximately 300 to 500 patient records are processed individually. This manual process is time-consuming, error-prone, and inefficient. So I’m looking for your teams’ help in this regard.
Thank you. Please let me know if any further information needed.
Hi Tharani,
Thanks for the detailed explanation. That helps clarify the use case.
To better understand the impact and feasibility of this request, I have a few follow-up questions:
- You mentioned ~300-500 records per month. Would you expect the volume to remain stable, or could it scale up in the future? How do you currently validate that the retrieved contact details (email/phone) are correct and up to date before contacting patients?
- Has UKHSA obtained approval to access and use patient contact details for this purpose, or would additional governance steps be required?
Your input will help us assess the feasibility and value of this request. Many thanks!
Thank you for your question. For the Data volume & validation process, The record count is expected to remain stable at approximately 300 - 500 records per month for this specific project. Currently, the process for validating contact details involves - Extracting the complete information from PDS. Copying the data into a separate Excel file. Searching for the NHS number within the raw data and manually merging the extracted information to ensure accuracy.
With regards to approval for access & use of patient contact details, As far as I am aware, the project team has obtained the necessary approvals to access and use patient contact details (Email/Phone) for this purpose. If required, I can request the project team to share the official approvals from NHSE as a reference.
Please let me know if you need any further clarification.
Hi Tharani,
Thanks for your patience. I’ve discussed this request with the team, and since DBS is quite old and there are plans to deprecate it, the likelihood of developing new features there is unfortunately very low.
However, we strongly encourage migration to PDS MESH, which supports the functionality you’re looking for, including bulk retrieval of patient contact details in a more sustainable and future-proof way.
Best,
Kitty