Learning from experience with NHS data
Data can offer rich insight and new perspectives. This is nothing new and you're probably saying '...and?' right about now. However, a single dataset on its own will only offer so much value, especially if looked at by the same people over and over again.
The hidden power of data is revealed when two things happen:
- data is made available openly for everyone to access
- a variety of people then use that open data
Sounds too simple to be true, doesn't it? But this is the underlying 'formula' of a lot of successful open data projects. Just take a peek at our projects page for some examples.
When NHS England approached us here at ODI Leeds, they had already reached step 1. An incredible wealth of data is available via the NHS England statistics website, from multiple departments and covering aspects from admissions and available beds to patient/staff experiences. This data is already used internally for a lot of analysis and discussion but it was felt that even more could be done with it. Which is where step 2 comes into play, and where we can start to help.
Keep your diaries free in May for a series of events focused on NHS England data. In particular, the analytics team want to focus on data collected via the national surveys, for example the GP Patient Survey or the National Patient and Staff Surveys. Is there a different way to look at these datasets in order to make new discoveries? Are there some hitherto unseen connections between patient experience and other facets of the healthcare system? How could this data be presented in new ways for the benefit of patients and staff alike?
Join us for a casual warm up session to find out more and start asking questions, making suggestions, asking about datasets, etc. We have three sessions currently scheduled in Leeds.
Wednesday 9 May - 8:30am-9:30am
Thursday 10 May - 5:00pm-6:00pm
Friday 11 May - 12:00pm-1:00pm
These warm up sessions will be used to help shape the agenda and working challenges for the hack day on 23 May. The analytics team are looking for anyone and everyone who works with data and could bring interesting new perspectives to work on the survey data.
