Data quality

The DQMI is a monthly publication about data quality in the NHS, which provides data submitters with timely and transparent information.

Links to all of the DQMI publications, the associated methodology documents and the interactive report can be found below:

The DIDS data is published one month in arrears, due to its submission timelines, therefore is not available for the latest published DQMI month.

The monthly DQMI will be released once the processing has completed, which may sometimes be ahead of the publication date shown above. Check below to see the most recent data available.

Data Quality Maturity Index included in NHS Oversight Framework for 2026/27

The Data Quality Maturity Index (DQMI) will be one of the metrics used within the NHS Oversight Framework (NOF) for 2026/27. 

An organisation's standard DQMI score (not the experimental DQMI score) will be one of a large number of different metrics used to calculate an organisation's overall segment within the NOF. It can be found within Domain 6, 'Finance, productivity and innovation' and is a scoring metric within the NOF. 

Please see the NOF web pages for further detail relating to the methodology applied.

Waiting List Minimum Data Set added to the DQMI

The Waiting List Minimum Data Set (WLMDS) has been incorporated into the Data Quality Maturity Index (DQMI) from April 2026 onwards to help drive improvements to the quality of a set of key data items within this data set.

The WLMDS has initially been added as experimental, so is currently only feeding the experimental DQMI score. Data providers should use the following couple of months to assess the impact the WLMDS will have on their standard DQMI score and make any necessary improvements to the quality of their data ahead of it being fully incorporated into their standard DQMI score later in the year.

As part of continued work to expand the depth of reporting of the DQMI across datasets work has been undertaken with the Tobacco Dependence and Alcohol Dependence Programmes to add a specific dashboard to help drive data quality in these areas. This dashboard will allow providers to assess their performance. 

Access the Power BI.

This report is intended to complement the tobacco and alcohol dependence patient level dashboards on FutureNHS (registration required). 

As part of continued work to expand the depth of reporting of the DQMI across data sets, work has been undertaken with NHS England and the MHSDS analysis and collection teams to expand the DQMI by a further 22 data items following the release of the MHSDS version 5 in October 2021.

An experimental version of the DQMI, which includes the expanded list of experimental data items, is currently included within the publication.  The experimental data items do not contribute to the official DQMI score.

A full list of the current MHSDS data items can be found in either the DQMI Power BI report, or the CSV data file. Experimental only data items can be identified using the ‘Standard Item’ column, where a value of ‘0’ signifies an experimental data item that does not contribute to the official standard DQMI score.​

This report, undertaken by NHS England and the CSDS Analysis and Collection teams, provides further detail on the UCR and MSK data within the CSDS DQMI to help drive data quality improvements in these areas. The table below details the criteria for records and the data items reported.

The Provider Data Quality Assurance Framework is aimed at provider organisations who, in terms of data quality assurance, need to get started and those that are looking to build on their existing data quality assurance processes and practices.  

The framework covers 5 main themes:

• oversight
• process
• people
• systems
• measures

Each part of the framework also includes an Assurance Checklist to assist provider organisations to assess where they are in terms of data quality assurance and what gaps there might be that the framework can help fill.

The framework can be accessed here:

• Provider Data Quality Assurance Framework – Part 1
• Provider Data Quality Assurance Framework – Part 2  

The framework has been developed to meet the requirements of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit and to support the published technical guidance.

If you have any queries these should all be logged via NHS England’s self-service portal (preferred method) or via the National Service Desk (NSD) by calling 0300 303 3035 or by emailing [email protected]. Please include ‘Data Quality Maturity Index (DQMI) Query’ in the short description (self-service portal), as this will assist with routing your enquiry through to the correct team. If you experience any issues registering with or using the self-service portal, please call the NSD.