Databricks

Databricks is a cloud-based lakehouse platform that can underpin the redevelopment of healthcare data, reporting and analytics, with tools such as Power BI used as a presentation layer. The platform combines data-lake flexibility with data-warehouse management, enabling teams to ingest and transform information, run SQL analytics, develop machine-learning models and collaborate through shared notebooks. Apache Spark and related engines process data at scale, while Unity Catalog provides central governance for data and AI assets, including permissions, lineage and discovery. For an NHS trust, Databricks is infrastructure for building governed datasets and analytical products rather than a ready-made clinical dashboard: local engineers define source connections, quality rules, models and outputs that support statutory reporting, operational decisions and service improvement.