NHS Digital publishes around 90 series of official statistics and National Statistics each year. Use of health and care statistics helps those involved to manage the system more effectively, commission better services, understand public health trends in more detail, develop new treatments and monitor the safety and effectiveness of care providers.
Our strategy for 2015-2020 sets out that over the next few years we are committed to analysing and making openly available data, statistical information and insights about the health and social care sector in ways which better meet our users’ needs.
However, these changes come at a time when spending on central services is being squeezed, and we must better prioritise our current services.
In our 2016 consultation on changes to statistics produced by NHS Digital, we proposed a series of changes over the next three years which will help us to better prioritise resources from our stretched budget while developing our statistical products to better meet the needs of our users. The consultation results are available.
To date changes to the main publication include greater use of visuals, such as infographics, and simplifying the content and layout of documents for users.
The responses also highlighted the desire to retain the annual data tables as these are regarded as crucial for performance monitoring, benchmarking and trend analysis, as well as contributing to JSNA updates.
Some responses highlighted a requirement to publish timely data at a more granular level, i.e. CCG/GP practice level, in addition to LA, as this will support the needs of commissioners. Since June 2017, interactive dashboards with quarterly coverage data at GP, CCG and LA level have been accessible through our website.
We continue to work with colleagues at PHE to ensure publications remain relevant and explore potential future improvements.
