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Health Services: Statistics

Asked by Sir Julian SmithConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 13 November 2024UIN 11875

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to (a) ensure regular public data releases and (b) improve the timeliness of data available.

Answered by Karin Smyth

The Department is strongly committed to upholding the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, and its three constituent pillars of trustworthiness, quality, and value. As such, the Department is committed to releasing timely data at a frequency that meets the needs of users, as far as practicable.

For example, over the winter, NHS England increased the frequency of its publications of data on urgent and emergency care, in response to the increased need for this data at this time.

The Heads of Profession for Statistics in the Department and its arm’s-length bodies ensure that statistical producers continually review their products and improve the quality and frequency of publication, in line with the needs of the users of data and statistics.

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