Once insights are released, the health and social care system can start to make improvements. These changes are of all sizes – from an individual to a whole country level.
NHS Digital works with organisations across health and social care to help them understand our insights, and to make sure that they can deliver effective change.
Individual patients or members of the public can use data to make decisions about their own health and care, or that of people they care for, including things like choosing a specialist doctor, changing their habits based on new research, or advocating for change.
Health professionals and clinicians can use data to better understand their patient groups, and to identify opportunities to improve their services.
Local provider organisations such as hospitals or GP practices, can data to plan their services better and more efficiently, as well as monitoring their performance against other providers like them.
National and regional commissioners and local authorities can use data to better understand the changing needs of the population, and to monitor the impact of their policy and work.
Central NHS organisations can use data to understand population needs and funding requirements, including how these are changing over time. They can also monitor quality of care, using indicators.
Research organisations such as universities, charities, think tanks and the life sciences sector, can use data to research new areas, which helps to better understand a disease or condition, as well as developing new medicines or treatments. They can also assess the efficacy, and cost versus benefits, of individual interventions, or even compare whole health systems.