Introduction to Data Development

Welcome to the revised ISD Data Development pages. This new presentation aims to give easier navigation to summary information describing the projects and data capture schemes within and linked to Data Development.

What is Data Development?

The NHS, and how we deliver health care, is changing. The Data Development programme aims to keep pace with the ways, range and scope of service delivery and clinical practice and reflect these in the development of NHS data.

"The Data Development Programme's mission is to fill the gaps in information supply and develop new ways of collecting national information."

Data Development Business Plan 2008-09 [380KB]

What does it do?

The Data Development Programme will:-

• Ensure that national data collection schemes accurately record how patient care is currently delivered.  ISD will work with its stakeholders to monitor compliance with current requirements and to address quality issues where identified.
• Develop new ways of collecting national information to support the delivery of care, recognising and identifying potential gaps that are not addressed by other ISD programmes of work. These will principally be in the area of community health services and health services delivered by multi disciplinary teams, including nurses and Allied Health Professions.  The focus of work will be on patient centred, clinical information and making best use of modern technology to minimise the impact of data collection on the NHS. Rather than try to create all encompassing national data capture systems, this phase of the programme will consider alternative methods, for example, sampling/surveys.

Recent Reports

•   Community Nursing Team Census - Community Nurses Measure Up  - report on project to capture and present information on the breadth and diversity of work carried out by community nurses

AHP Census

• In September 2005 the Scottish Executive Health Department commissioned a first Scotland-wide census of the caseload of NHSScotland AHPs.  This was undertaken in order to:-
  • improve information available nationally on AHP caseload and contribute to the development of core data standards for the work of AHPs
  • ascertain the magnitude, variety and diversity of AHPs' caseload.

The first report Preliminary results from the census was published on 26th January 2006 and presents initial findings.

The second report from the AHP census, Waiting for AHP services. A review of the numbers waiting and possible waiting times for an appointment with an AHP was published on 6th July 2006.

 The third and final report from the census of Allied Health Professionals,  AHPs Do Count: developing clinical data to inform the service about the work of AHPs, together with an additional report  AHPs Do Count: relating findings from the AHP census to the AHP electronic community health information project (AHPeCHIP), written by Margaret Hastings (AHP Information Development Officer, SEHD, 2003 - 2006), were published on the 28th September 2006.  

Current Projects

•  Clinical Quality Indicators - 'eQIPS'
• Unscheduled care including national A&E data
• National theatre information
• The AHP Data Project is working to improve AHP information in Scotland

National AHP data currently consists of the ISD(S)1 return, which records new and total contacts. There are some queries over the quality of these data.

The AHP Data Project, based at ISD, has been established to improve both the amount and the quality of information available to AHPs and AHP services in Scotland - through the development of a new AHP dataset.

The dataset will enable AHP services to start collecting and using high quality, standardised data. The data generated will be available nationally, as well as locally, to allow benchmarking and the sharing of best practice.

Phase 1

'Phase 1' of the data project concentrates on high-level management data such as referrals, demand and activity.

These data will support boards in understanding their capacity, workload etc.   The more complex clinical information will included in later phases of the project, once management data are collected regularly by all services.

It is intended that all AHPs in Scotland will use the dataset, except for Radiography who already have good data collection processes. 

For more information, please contact the Project Manager, Felicity Naughton, on felicitynaughton@nhs.net or 0131 275 7148.

Main contact: Data Development

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