Skip to main content

Data quality

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

Page contents

Data Quality Assurance

Data Quality Assurance (DQA) is enterprise-wide and affects all data we collect, store, share and use in some way.

One focus of the team is to ensure that data used internally and externally has been quality assured in line with corporate requirements and statutory obligations, promoting consistency in the management and use of DQA processes and tools across the organisation to achieve this.

Overarching assurance helps to ensure that DQ requirements are met, there are no gaps in provision, and duplication of work is avoided.

Current Data Quality Maturity Index (DQMI)

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:

DQMI Methodology

Current DQMI

DQMI-54 (March 2022)

xlsx 2 MB

DQMI-54 CSV

csv 4 MB
Accessibility of this tool

This tool is in Microsoft Power BI which does not fully support all accessibility needs. If you need further assistance, please email us at DQAteam@nhs.net for help.

Current DQMI with Diagnostic Imaging Data Set (DID)

DQMI-53 (February 2022) (DID included)

xlsx 2 MB

Historical publications

See the Data Quality Archive page for previous publications

Updates

APC Primary Diagnosis

Due to issues with extraction of the data, APC Primary Diagnosis is presenting a 6-month average for June and July 21. We are unfortunately unable to re-publish the affected DQMI’s. The DQMI’s before this and from August-21 report this item as it should.

ECDS inclusion complete

As part of our ongoing plans to extend both the scope and content of the Data Quality Maturity Index (DQMI) we developed a new DQMI for the Emergency Care Dataset (ECDS). This work has now completed and ECDS Type 011 dataset takes over officially from A&E type 010.

We have now added “Clinically Ready To Proceed” data item. This item will show as experimental for the next 3 publications at which point it will contribute to the score.

Details of the rules and filters for the ECDS data items can be found in the ECDS Data item - rules and filters DQMI document.

The team has also developed a new ECDS DQ Dashboard to provide more frequent, granular feedback on the ECDS to support local improvement of data at source.  The dashboard contains 40 data items (including those within the DQMI) and is published alongside the other existing SUS Data Quality Dashboard reports. Find out more information, including how to register for access.

Expansion to IAPT DQMI

As part of continued work to expand the depth of reporting of the DQMI across datasets work has been undertaken with the IAPT Analysis and Collection teams to expand the DQMI by a further 14 data items.

Update - June 2021: Some of these items have been discovered to need further work and so will remain published as an experimental score alongside the existing DQMI score until we resolve the issues. After this they will presented as experimental for a further 3 months and then be added to the original 7 data items and published as the formal DQMI score. No timescales are yet available for this work. Further data items are also being considered for future inclusion and further details will be released once a decision has been reached.

IAPT DQMI 7 IAPT items contribute to overall DQMI Score 21 IAPT items contribute to overall
DQMI Score
Data items ETHNIC CATEGORY ETHNIC CATEGORY
  GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTICE CODE (PATIENT REGISTRATION) GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTICE CODE (PATIENT REGISTRATION)
  NHS NUMBER NHS NUMBER
  ORGANISATION CODE (CODE OF COMMISSIONER) ORGANISATION CODE (CODE OF COMMISSIONER)
  PERSON GENDER CODE CURRENT PERSON GENDER CODE CURRENT
  POSTCODE OF USUAL ADDRESS POSTCODE OF USUAL ADDRESS
  SOURCE OF REFERRAL FOR MENTAL HEALTH SOURCE OF REFERRAL FOR MENTAL HEALTH
    ADULT MENTAL HEALTH CARE CLUSTER CODE (FINAL)
    APPOINTMENT TYPE (IMPROVING ACCESS TO PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIES)
    CODED ASSESSMENT TOOL TYPE (SNOMED CT)
    CODED PROCEDURE AND PROCEDURE STATUS (SNOMED CT)
    DISABILITY CODE
    DISCHARGE FROM IMPROVING ACCESS TO PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIES SERVICE REASON
    EMPLOYMENT STATUS
    IMPROVING ACCESS TO PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIES ACTIVITY SUSPENSION REASON
    ORGANISATION IDENTIFIER (RECEIVING)
    PERSON SCORE
    PRESENTING COMPLAINT (CODED CLINICAL ENTRY)
    PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION USAGE INDICATION CODE
    SOCIAL AND PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCE (SNOMED CT)
    STATUTORY SICK PAY RECEIPT INDICATOR    

If you have any questions about the DQMI, contact us at dqateam@nhs.net

Provider Data Quality Assurance Framework

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 five main themes:

  • oversight
  • process
  • people
  • systems
  • measures

Within each section describes its objective, the benefits associate with it and current best practice. 

Several sections include a case study and links to supporting resources and the intention is to extend over time through a collaboration site that will be launched in February 2020.

Each part of the framework also includes an Assurance Checklist to assist provider organisations assess where they are in terms of data quality assurance and what gaps there might be that the framework can help fill. The framework will continue to be developed and additional resources made available through this web page.

The documents can be accessed here:

The framework has been developed to meet the requirements of Assertion 1.7 of the Data Security & Protection tool and support the published technical guidance.

Providers are encouraged to complete either part 1 or part 2 of the online data quality assurance self-assessment surveys. 

Self-assessment Data Quality Assurance checklist - Part 1

Self-Assessment Data Quality Assurance Checklist - Part 2

Both surveys (part 1 and part 2) correspond to part 1 and part 2 respectively of the Provider Data Quality Assurance Framework.

Responses to the survey will assist NHS Digital to understand national data quality assurance practice and associated support requirements.  

Quick links

ARTICLE

CDS Data Quality Dashboards

CDS Data Quality Dashboards provide a detailed analysis of the quality of the Commissioning Data Sets (CDS) that have been submitted into the Secondary Uses Service (SUS). 
ARTICLE

Commissioning Data Sets

Commissioning Data Sets (CDS) enable national reporting on NHS funded or provided secondary care.
ARTICLE

Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS)

The Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS) is the national data set for urgent and emergency care. It replaced Accident & Emergency Commissioning Data Set (CDS type 010) and was implemented through: ECDS (CDS 6.2.2 Type 011)
ARTICLE

Diagnostic Imaging Data Set

The Diagnostic Imaging Data Set (DID) collects data about diagnostic imaging tests carried out on NHS patients, extracted from local radiology information systems.
ARTICLE

Community Services Data Set

The data set allows community service providers and commissioners to view local and national information from community services, to improve patient care.
ARTICLE

Maternity Services Data Set

The Maternity Services Data Set (MSDS) is a patient level data set that collects information on each stage of care for women as they go through pregnancy. As a secondary uses data set it re-uses clinical and operational data for purposes other than direct patient care.

Further information

external

Last edited: 30 June 2022 1:59 pm