Skip to main content

LOCOMOTION Receives CAG Support

Date

The LOCOMOTION study submitted a research application to the Health Research Authority (HRA) to process confidential patient information without consent. The Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) is an independent body that protects and advises on the use of confidential patient data. They review applications submitted under the Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002. Providing advice to the HRA on whether application activity should be supported. The LOCOMOTION study has now received ‘approval’ (section 251 support) from the Health Research Authority, on the recommendation of the CAG, for our application.

Green tick icon to represent positive news about the CAG support

Why was this application required?

The application was submitted as part of work package 3.1. The aim of 3.1 is ‘Develop and Evaluate New Integrated Care Pathways for Managing Long COVID’. The purpose of application is to use data that will inform our research but which it would not be practicable to seek or obtain patient consent for:

  1. Retrospective data from patients seen in Long COVID clinics from the setting up of clinics until the start of the study.
  2. The use of primary care data to identify patients who have not been referred to Long COVID clinics. Sourced from the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC)

The application was thoroughly scrutinised by the CAG to ensure appropriate use of confidential patient information. Further clarification on aspects of our application was sought and details of patient involvement was required. LOCOMOTION researchers received close support and input from our Patient Advisory Group on this application. As part of this application process, a Transparency Notice was created. This notice informs patients how their data will be used for this research and how they can opt-out if they want.

The LOCOMOTION team are thankful to the CAG for their support through this process. We are excited to begin the subsequent data linkage work, to harness existing integrated patient-level data. Data from across primary care and Long COVID clinics will be analysed to understand specific Long COVID phenotypes and current care pathways and outcomes.