Improving health inequalities data sharing in Cwm Taf Morgannwg
The challenge
Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board and local housing associations were each collecting valuable data about their populations, but weren’t sharing it with each other. This meant no single organisation had the full picture of how housing, health, and wider determinants were affecting local people. Without joined-up data, they couldn’t effectively identify people at risk or make informed decisions about commissioning health and housing services. Data silos were preventing collaborative action on health inequalities.
The approach
Co-production Lab Wales facilitated a “100 day approach” with a core group of senior leaders and a wider collaborative team, focusing on growth mindsets, collaborative working, and iterative problem-solving:
- Guided the collaborative process: We supported leaders and collaborators through each stage, helping them work through the challenge together rather than in separate organisational silos.
- Navigated barriers: We supported senior leaders to discuss and overcome the challenges they faced along the way – from data protection concerns to competing organisational priorities.
- Coordinated and facilitated: We ran all group meetings and 1:1 sessions, creating space for honest conversation and practical problem-solving.
- Embedded learning: We held debrief and learning spaces for the wider team, ensuring insights were captured and shared.
The outcome
The collaborative group conceptualised and designed a data sharing dashboard that met the requirements of all partner organisations. Multiple organisations now have access to joined-up data that reveals the full picture of health inequalities in their area. This enables them to identify at-risk individuals more effectively and make evidence-based commissioning decisions that address wider determinants of health. Senior leaders developed stronger collaborative relationships and the confidence to tackle complex cross-organisational challenges together.
The Learning
- Senior leaders need facilitated space to work through challenges together. When organisations face different regulations, priorities, and constraints, neutral facilitation helps them find common ground rather than getting stuck in silos.
- The 100 day approach creates momentum. Time-boxing the work encouraged iterative problem-solving and prevented the initiative from stalling in endless planning.
- Building relationships is as important as building solutions. The trust and collaborative practices developed through this process positioned partners to tackle future challenges together, extending impact beyond the data dashboard itself.
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