Families will be able to register births and deaths electronically under new data laws.
Ministers have vowed to make the process easier for those who are going through “the heartache of losing a loved one or riding the rollercoaster of joy” of welcoming a newborn. Registrations will be able to be carried out over the phone or online instead of an individual being required to go in person to sign a register.
The changes, included in the Data Use and Access Bill, follow temporary measures introduced during the pandemic, where more than a million deaths were registered by phone in England and Wales. The legislation was introduced to Parliament on Wednesday.
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Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publis)
Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle told the Mirror: “Whether grappling with the heartache of losing a loved one or riding the rollercoaster of joy and adrenaline that comes with the arrival or a newborn, the process for registering these milestones is a bureaucratic rigamarole that is simply not fit for purpose. Offering a choice between registering births, stillbirths, and deaths on the phone, online or in person is about making the system work for us at the most emotional of times, whether good or bad.”
The Bill will also enable important tasks to be simplified to allow key workers to focus on fighting crime or saving lives. This would include ensuring a patient’s pre-existing conditions, appointments and tests can easily be accessed across all NHS trusts, GP surgeries and ambulance services.
The changes are expected to free up 1.5 million hours of police time and 140,000 NHS staff hours every year. Vital safeguards will remain in place to track and monitor how personal data is used, giving peace of mind to patients and victims of crime.
The Bill proposes simplifying other administrative tasks such as renting. The Government says the legislation will also lay the groundwork to expand the model of open banking to other sectors, creating new smart data schemes which will allow consumers and businesses to share personal data safely with third parties in order to receive personalised market comparisons or advice to help them save money.
Mr Kyle added: “Data is the DNA of modern life and quietly drives every aspect of our society and economy without us even noticing, from our NHS treatments and social interactions to our business and banking transactions. It has the enormous potential to make our lives better, boosting our National Health Service, cutting costs when we shop and saving us valuable time.
“With laws that help us to use data securely and effectively, this Bill will help us boost the UK’s economy, free up vital time for our frontline workers, and relieve people from unnecessary admin so that they can get on with their lives.”