Data Access Request ServiceThe Data Access Request Service (DARS) handles customer requests to access our wide range of health and social care information, products and services. We recently simplified the request process into three stages:

1. Application – this sets out the nature of the data being requested and the purpose for which it is needed.

2. Approval – this stage is in place to verify that there is an appropriate legal basis for accessing the requested data and that safeguards are in place to ensure customers will store and handle the data safely and securely. All applications are evaluated independently by the Data Access Advisory Group (DAAG) which makes a recommendation to us about whether or not to approve the release.

3. Access – once a Data Sharing Contract and Data Sharing Agreement have been signed we will prepare your data for you.

Find out more about the Data Access Request Service at www.hscic.gov.uk/dars and DAAG at www.hscic.gov.uk/daag

Providing information to support better careWe collect, analyse and publish national data and statistics. Our information services and products are used by a range of organisations to support the commissioning and delivery of services, for research and academic studies, and to provide targeted information to patients, service users and the public.

Case Study

Improvements for breast cancer surgery patientsA national programme to improve the breast care surgical pathway has reported significant improvements to quality of care and large reductions in the length of hospital stays for breast cancer surgery patients after it used our Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data.

NHS Improving Quality requested the information, which, along with other activities, was analysed by the National Clinical Analysis and Specialised Applications Team (NATCANSAT) to streamline processes for the breast care surgical pathway. Between 2007-08 and 2011-12, this contributed to:

• improved patient experience (quality of care)

• increased proportion of planned surgery done as a day case from 27 per cent to 40 per cent.

• reduced average length of hospital stay by 50 per cent.

• reduced bed days by 49 per cent.

Read the full case-study at www.hscic.gov.uk/breastcancercasestudy

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www.hscic.gov.uk 0300 303 5678 @hscic enquiries@hscic.gov.uk

In June 2014 we published our Focus on the Health and Care of Older People report to provide a broad picture of older peoples’ health and lifestyles. It pulls together data on hospital activity, mental health, social care, prescribing, NHS workforce, census data and life expectancy.

The report also explores the use of health and social care services among older people and gives insight on the impact an ageing population has on these services and how this compares to previous generations.

Download the report and supporting data www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/opfocusjun14

Data Services for CommissionersCommissioners of healthcare services need to plan and commission in their local area through the analysis of actual and projected use of services, across all parts of the care economy. This modelling requires access to information about care provided to patients, their hospitals stays and patient journeys but without accessing personal confidential patient data.

Care commissioners do not provide direct patient care, and therefore they have no automatic legal basis on which to access personal confidential patient information. For this reason commissioners require an intermediary service that specialises in processing, analysing and packaging patient information into a format they can legally use. This is provided by Data Services for Commissioners (DSfC).

DSfC has established regional processing centres, known as Data Services for Commissioners Regional Offices (DSCROs). These offices access appropriate information, without compromising patient confidentiality or statutory legal requirements around the use of this data.

Find out more about Data Services for Commissioners www.hscic.gov.uk/dsfc

Bringing indicators, their data and methodologies togetherThe Francis Report highlighted the role indicators and other comparative statistics play in measuring performance and outcomes and underlined our role in producing, assuring and publishing indicators. As the national source of indicators we produce and publish the NHS Outcomes Framework, Commissioning Outcomes Framework and Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework indicators. We also provide a service for testing and assurance of indicators, to make sure that the methods they use are robust.

Our Indicator Portal provides quick and easy access to hundreds of indicators in one place and is a valuable information resource for all health and social care professionals, not just information specialists.

Find out more www.hscic.gov.uk/indicatorportal

The data from the indicators in the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) can be viewed and explored in our website. You can view the data by Local Authority and Outcome Measure in an interactive map.

View the ASCOF data http://ascof.hscic.gov.uk/

Providing information to support better care

Copyright © 2014 Health and Social Care Information Centre 2

09/14

Version 1.1 Published 26 June 2014

Shedding new light on the health and care of older people

www.hscic.gov.uk 0300 303 5678 @hscic enquiries@hscic.gov.uk