Respiratory care action plan draft: consultation report

Question 10: Data

Commitment 12 – We will work with NHS Information Services Division and others to:

• understand the gaps in prevalence, and how best to improve the data;
• enhance capture of already routine collected data;
• further develop systems and processes that support service planning and workforce development based on this information;
• explore the feasibility of developing a national reporting framework that includes key performance indicators for respiratory care and support and measures improvements in care and support

A total of 111 people responded to this question, with 33 responses being expanded to include comments. The responses to this question were overwhelmingly in favour of the commitment, with a majority (100) agreeing on the importance of capturing data. There were no responses that disagreed with the commitment, however it should be noted that 11 respondents felt that they could not answer the question. In terms of respondent breakdown: 

• NHS (boards and organisations) 9
• Third sector organisations 15
• Private sector companies 6
• General public individuals 81

There were several themes that came out of the responses to this question, in particular: the need for sharing patient notes between primary and secondary care; the need for better, more accurate collection of data and the need for a national performance framework for data. Aspects of this commitment feed into other areas of the Plan, particularly communication between services. 

Breakdown of the most common themes:

Current data usage

A general comment from respondents was around current data collection and how it is used to improve service delivery as well as to support patient outcomes. Respondents were also keen to understand what is currently collected by Information Services Division (ISD) and others. 

Improved data collection

There was broad consensus that data collection must be robust, accurate and meaningful. Staff must also be able to access it easily to enable interpretation. Depending on the format, collected data could be used to show variation and inequality within a small area, in a similar way to the atlas of variation. 

Sharing data across the NHS

One of the biggest themes in the expanded responses was the need for patients notes to be available between both primary and secondary care. It was noted that this is not currently possible, and that the various IT systems in use across Scotland must be linked up or one national system to be developed to ensure clinicians have all the information they need throughout a patient's journey. 

There were mixed views on sharing data with the third sector, with responses noting either that the third sector could use information to assist with patient care, or concerns about the governance and confidentiality of data given as part of outsourced services. 

A chart showing phrases from the Q10 responses. Data collection had 11 mentions; data usage had 3.

A chart showing phrases from the Q10 responses. Data collection had 11 mentions; data usage had 3.