Barts Health deploys imaging de-identification tool
- Barts Health NHS Trust has gone live with Sectra’s ‘anonymise and export’ functionality
- The tool removes the need for manual de-identification of diagnostic images, helping NHS teams save time while supporting secure medical research
- De-identified imaging data will feed into the Barts Health Data Platform, with the feature also expected to support future AI development by enabling researchers to train and test models on large volumes of anonymised data
Barts Health NHS Trust has gone live with a feature which automates the removal of identifying patient information from diagnostic images so that they can support medical research into new treatments and technologies.
Sectra’s ‘anonymise and export’ has been integrated within the trust’s existing Sectra enterprise imaging solution, replacing the manual and time-intensive process for de-identifying imaging data for research purposes.
Sarah Jensen, chief information officer for Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “The diversity and sheer volume of data being integrated means a significant leap forward in our healthcare data research capabilities.
“NHS professionals are under pressure as they work to deliver the best possible care for patients. Academics and researchers in continual pursuit of medical advancements, can play a key role delivering innovations urgently needed.
“Now, we can securely and safely provide the data they need on a scale not previously possible, whilst safeguarding confidentiality, and without our busy NHS teams being asked to spend time manually removing identifiable information.”
Barts Health is the first organisation in the NHS to implement the feature.
De-identified imaging data will be integrated into the Barts Health Data Platform (BHDP), which launched in April 2025.
The BHDP brings together different types of health information including scans, health records, and lab results into one secure system that researchers can apply to use.
According to Sectra, the feature will also support future AI development by enabling researchers to train and test models on large volumes of anonymised imaging data.
Jane Rendall, managing director, UK and Ireland at Sectra, said: “Healthcare professionals at Barts Health have been at the forefront of innovation with imaging technology for many years – using our platform to diagnose and inform care for a great many patients across East London.
“This latest initiative takes that innovation to another level, securely and safely harnessing imaging data in ways that could radically change how care is delivered. I look forward to seeing the impact emerge for healthcare and patients alike.”
The anonymise and export feature was deployed with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Barts Biomedical Research Centre.
Mark Caulfield, dean of the faculty of medicine at Queen Mary University of London, said: “The NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre is delighted to have enabled this groundbreaking advancement in access to medical imaging for research.
“This system represents a pivotal moment in our field — a true game-changer that unlocks the potential of big data while steadfastly protecting patient privacy.”
Barts Health has been working with enterprise imaging company Sectra for more than two decades.
In 2021, the trust signed a deal with the company to roll out a digital pathology network across four of its London hospital sites.
SOURCE: Digital Health
