Practice 1.2 Use existing data sets
Examples of notable practice:
Mapping information
Concordat signatories have produced a ‘Regulators’ Map’ that outlines the types of information that they request and gather from the organisations that they review, inspect or audit. It is being used in three ways:
- to identify opportunities to reduce the number of bespoke data collections
- as a reference tool that will enable signatories to avoid duplication when planning new data collections
- to encourage the sharing of information between signatories
The Map is being moved to the Information Catalogue, managed by the NHS Health & Social Care Information Centre, which can be found at: http://ic.dh.gov.uk/infocat/ (opens new window)
Information gateway
The Audit Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Healthcare Commission, the Mental Health Act Commission, the National Audit Office and the NHS Litigation Authority, are using an information gateway in order to manage the flow of communications with healthcare organisations.
Gateway information (pdf 24kb)
Gateway application form (doc 219kb)
Using existing data
Where possible, the National Audit Office makes use of existing datasets in its studies. One recent example is the use of sentinel audit data from the Royal College of Physicians in a review of stroke services.
http://www.nao.org.uk/pn/05-06/0506452.htm (opens new window)
Changing practice
The NHS Litigation Authority identified overlaps between some of the data it collected to determine trust contributions (premiums) to its risk pooling schemes and collections made by the Department of Heath. From 2005/06 (2006/07 contributions), the NHSLA ceased to collect data direct from trusts and in future will rely on information provided by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre.
