We work in 4 main areas.
Lifestyles statistics
Our team collects data on a range of topics including:
- smoking
- alcohol
- drug use
- obesity
- contraception
In addition, we also manage the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) collecting data on the numbers of underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese primary school children.
Data associated with the national Lifestyles surveys is also collected by our team.
Population, geography and international statistics
We collate information from all four UK countries on a wide variety of health-related topics for international bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Eurostat.
We also have responsibility for population, births and deaths information, which includes the number of live births, deaths by cause and area, and the number of maternities (number of pregnancies resulting in births).
In addition, we manage the Primary Care Mortality Database (PCMD) and Compendium of Public Health indicators, primarily for Public Health clinicians and analysts in local authorities, but also for wider use. We deal with issues related to geography, including spatial analysis and mapping tasks.
Screening and immunisations
We collect data in relation to breast and cervical screening, and the NHS immunisation programme.
Breast screening data includes information on the number of women invited for screening, numbers screened, and the outcomes of screening (including diagnosis of cancer).
Cervical screening data includes information about the call and re-call system, screening samples examined by pathology laboratories, referrals to colposcopy clinics and subsequent treatment and outcomes.
Immunisation coverage data is collected for routine childhood immunisations at one, two and five years, and seasonal flu immunisation.
Surveys
Our surveys team commissions and manages contracts with external organisations to carry out surveys on aspects of health and social care. Surveys cover a wide range of topics and vary in frequency from quarterly to every 10 years.
Morbidity surveys can be complex undertakings, involving in-depth clinical face to face interviews. These must also have procedures in place to advise interviewees if they should seek medical attention.
We offer advice on running or commissioning surveys. Additional questions can be added to existing surveys, or certain demographic returns boosted.