The Information Centre for health and social care (IC) aims to be the recognised source of relevant information to improve decision making in health and social care. This includes information to support activities and initiatives set out in the ‘National Health Service Operating Framework’, particularly around ensuring the secondary user service (SUS) becomes the standard repository for activity for performance management, reconciliation and payment by April 2009.
NHS comparators service has been developed with NHS Connecting for Health to provide a facility for NHS registered users to compare general practitioner (GP) practice-level data on hospital admissions and the quality and outcomes framework. We have expanded the range of information. Currently there are over 4,000 users registering over 80 per cent. satisfaction with the service.
The IC has produced a prescribing data consultation document entitled ‘Wider release of NHS prescribing data’ (copies of this publication have been placed in the Library) which includes a feedback form and the closing date for returns is 8 August. The consultation results will then be published and any subsequent initiatives will depend on the results.
The compendium of health outcomes service has been re-procured and provides web-based information. This service will be developed to support the needs and requirements of users, particularly those involved in commissioning care.
The IC in collaboration with NHS Connecting for Health is preparing to procure a GP data extraction service (GPES). Following strict governance guidelines, GPES will co-ordinate approved data extractions from GP computer systems nationwide and provide high-quality analyses. The results will support the development of national and local policies for future patient led services. It is currently consulting with stakeholders prior to a procurement exercise.
The IC has also developed, with the Department, a number of work force financial indicators to support the comparative use of electronic staff record information. This is a web-based application which has been piloted by organisations within NHS across the Yorkshire and Humberside areas and is now being rolled out nationally.
There have been significant problems in enabling mental health minimum dataset data to flow into SUS. These problems have meant that the publication planned for April 2008 has been delayed and no data have yet been received or processed. SUS functionality is being developed for implementation later this year to enable data to be available via SUS in 2009. An interim, alternative solution is currently being tested for receipt of annual data only but we are not yet able to confirm the timetable for delivery of the data.
The provision of new social care data will shortly commence a formal, three-month consultation, in line with national statistics requirements, in connection with a substantive review of current social care collections and publications.