1 January 2022

CCG Alert blog closes

Please be aware that this blog is no longer updated.

This blog has been dedicated to supporting  CCGs formed under the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

With the reorganisation of commissioning across the NHS in England as outlined in the Health and Care Bill, currently going through parliament, it is time to close this blog.

Over the past 10 years the blog has received nearly 100,000 views. I hope it has been useful.

Anne Gray

NHS Arden GEM CSU

Some of the statistical resources I have found useful over the years

  • Government statistics
  • Health services
  • Local Authority/ constituencies
  • Workforce
  • Research data
  • Ethnicity/inequalities
  • Stats by disease

  • Key COVID-19 sources
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Cancer
  • Mental health
  • Demographics/ inequalities

Government statistics

Statistics at Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) relate to general public health; abortions; alcohol, tobacco and drug use; CVD; child and maternal health; chronic disease; COVID-19; diet, obesity and physical activity; endo life care; health inequalities; mental health; mortality surveillance; primary care

Statistics at NHS England – includes key performance indicators relating to NH Operating Framework

PHE data and analysis tools incl health inequalities; links to Fingertips profiles

Health and care statistics for England This tool compiles official statistics relating to health and care in England, into one location. Relevant publications and datasets covering England are identified via the Gov.uk statistics release calendar in collaboration with the English Health Statistics Steering Group.

PHE statistics (no longer updated)

PHE statistics: ad-hoc analyses and data releases

NHS Key Statistics: England, February 2022, House of Commons Library research briefing. Summary of NHS demand, performance, backlogs, and capacity of services in England. Covers A&E statistics, waiting lists and pressures, ambulance data, delayed discharges, staffing levels including doctors and nurses, and more.

Health services

Atlas of Variation  "help to identify unwarranted variation and assess the value that healthcare provides to both populations and individuals." Latest full revision 2019. Other topics updated more recently.

Model health System data-driven improvement tool that enables NHS health systems and trusts to benchmark quality and productivity. Operational and system-level data across STP or ICS. Search by specialty, service, policy priority, workforce (inc retention, temporary staffing, EDI) [Registration required]

Acute hospital trust catchment populations PHE v1.1 May 2020 . A tool using Microsoft Power BI which models estimates of catchment populations for hospital provider trusts in England. Users can select a trust or a region they are interested in and then throughout the dashboard, additional options may be available such as admission type and year.  Further details on methodology can be found on the first and last pages of the dashboard,

Unit Costs of Health and Social Care from the Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent. Annual report of unit costs for approaching 100 types of health and social care services.  Includes a table “Unit costs of professionals” Annual reports include one off articles on related topics. (Index available)

HQIP  - audit data across a range of pathways

Syndromic surveillance “collecting, analysing and interpreting health-related data to provide an early warning of human or veterinary public health threats, which require public health action.” Includes remote health advice, GP in hours and GP out of hours, emergency dept and ambulance.

  • GP in hours data uses data from over 55% of England’s population (practices using TPP system) with trends across a range of infectious conditions – respiratory, GI, skin conditions, vaccine preventable.
  • GP out of hours - The number of unscheduled visits and calls to GPs every day: during evenings, overnight, on weekends and on public holidays.

Waiting Lists Tracker from the Patient Experience Library. By trust based on NHS England  Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Time. (Very broad categories; number waiting to start; started; %waiting more than a year)

ODI Social Prescribing Flagship Public Tool  draws together a range of datasets that provide information on the incidence of deprivation and various health conditions that are likely to drive demand for different aspects of social prescribing.

Local Authority/ constituencies

Constituency data: health conditions,
House of Commons Library Data Dashboard 27 April 2021
Compare local data for health conditions including diabetes, asthma, depression and high blood pressure. Browse data constituency and small area estimates for the prevalence of twenty conditions, including asthma, COPD, dementia, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, and epilepsy. These modelled estimates are based on analysis of 2019/20 data from QOF data published by NHS Digital.

LG Inform reports – reports including COVID-19;  children and young people, adult social care; delayed transfer of care; local health reports;  demographics, deprivation etc

A picture of health: an intelligence framework for the South west (2021) A snapshot of key public health indicators including analysis of cause of mortality by age group, deprivation and demographics. (I am sure I have seen this for other areas too)

Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics (nomisweb.co.uk) - labour market profile by constituency. ethnicity by LA and others

Workforce

NHS workforce statistics NHS Digital. Geographical Granularity: Ambulance Trusts, Care Trusts, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Hospital and Community Health Services, Hospital Trusts, Mental Health Trusts, NHS Trusts, Regions

General Practice Workforce Interactive dashboard, NHS Digital. GP primary care workforce metrics at national level, CCG level and practice level. This includes the number of GPs at England level or within a region and the number of registered patients per GP

Model health System data-driven improvement tool that enables NHS health systems and trusts to benchmark quality and productivity. Operational and system-level data across STP or ICS. Search by specialty, service, policy priority, workforce (inc retention, temporary staffing, EDI) [Registration required]

Research data

Health Data Research Innovation Gateway - datasets, tools, papers and related resources used in health research across the UK. Video  Over 600 datasets listed. Includes NHS Digital, NIHR, RCGP QResearch; UK Biobank

Ethnicity/inequalities

Health equity: Evidence, resources and guidance from Public Health England and partners to help support national, regional and local areas to reduce health inequalities. Including Data and intelligence reports on health inequalities

Ethnic Category Coverage, NHS Digital. Spreadsheets including ethnic breakdown by CCG, refreshed every 2 weeks.

Ethnicity facts and figures - Government data about the UK's different ethnic groups. Searchable. Categories include Health and UK population (2011 census). Data by ethnic group – summaries so far include Indian, Chinese, Black Caribbean and Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller.

Digital Exclusion Risk Index (DERI) Tool
The Digital Exclusion Risk Index (DERI) tool visualises the risk, or likelihood of digital exclusion for every LSOA in England and Wales. It brings together a broad set of indicators including demography, deprivation and broadband. Created by the Greater Manchester Office of Data Analysis at Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Read more
https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/what-we-do/news/a-new-tool-in-your-toolbox-the-digital-exclusion-risk-index/

Deprivation heat maps FutureNHS Equalities and Health Inequalities Network [registration required]. Heat maps (based on 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation deciles) have been created to support Integrated Care Systems to identify the Core20 most deprived areas within their geography.

Stats by disease

A chronological map of 308 physical and mental health conditions from 4 million individuals in the English National Health Service The Lancet Digital Health, Volume 1, Issue 2, June 2019, Pages e63-e77 (Fantastic graphics)

Key COVID-19 sources

·         UK COVID-19 data dashboard
·         Excess mortality in English regions (OHID) (data), (interactive dashboard)
·         NHS England Coronavirus guidance for clinicians and NHS Managers
·         COVID-19 vaccination programme
·         COVID-19 local vaccination services (FutureNHS)
·         COVID-19 Vaccinations (data)
·         Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance (UK gov)
·         COVID-19: impacts on health – reports and tools incl mental health, disparities
·         COVID-19 resource and best practice hub for social care (SCIE)
·         Post-COVID Syndrome (Long COVID) (NHS England)
·         COVID-19 Health Inequalities Monitoring in England Tool (CHIME)
·         NHS England COVID-19 publications

·         COVID-19 Rolling Weekly Tracker Local Authority View

Cardiovascular diseases

British Heart Foundation - Heart and Circulatory Disease StatisticsPublished annually, latest 2022.The series features the latest statistics for mortality, morbidity, treatments, risk factors and costs relating to heart and circulatory diseases.

Ischaemic heart diseases deaths including comorbidities, England and Wales: 2019 registrations ONS 4 May 2021
Deaths registered in 2019 in England and Wales due to ischaemic heart diseases, by sex, age group, region and place of occurrence. Includes analysis of comorbidities.

CVD Prevention packs (STP/CCG level)  aim to inform the 10 year ambitions focussing on the three CVD risk factors, hypertension, atrial fibrillation and dyslipidaemia.

Cancer

Early Diagnosis Data Hub, Cancer Research UK. Explore the latest cancer early diagnosis data across the UK. (National data only, but there are links to data available at regional/CCG level.)

Cancer: summary of statistics (England) House of Commons Library Research Briefing 4 November, 2021. Data and charts on cancer diagnosis, deaths, survival, and NHS treatments in England.

NCRI COVID-19 Dashboard
NCRI, Cancer Research UK, the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) and the Cancer Alliance Data, Evaluation and Analysis Service have developed a cancer and Covid-19 research dashboard. This is a public resource that lists research projects looking at the impact of Covid-19 on cancer care and patients.

Mental health

Mental health statistics: prevalence, services and funding in England House of Commons Library research briefing 13 December 2021

Demographics/ inequalities

The ODI Social Prescribing Flagship Public Tool which draws together a range of datasets that provide information on the incidence of deprivation and various health conditions that are likely to drive demand for different aspects of social prescribing.

 Global burden of disease – international but with country profiles UK, England and regions

LGA Research Reports https://lginform.local.gov.uk/dataAndReports/themed-reports 

Finding the evidence: Health inequalities, equality and diversity updated 2021

14 December 2021

Integrating health and social care A comparison of policy and progress across the four countries of the UK

Integrating health and social care: A comparison of policy and progress across the four countries of the UK
Nuffield Trust 14 December 2021
  • The integration of health and social care has been a long-standing policy priority in each country of the UK. However, there is limited evidence these policies are delivering the results expected of them. This report looks at the impact of integration across the four countries and compares the policies and approaches each one has trialled to deliver their goals.

9 December 2021

Cultural barriers and solutions related to the implementation of flexible working: review of the literature

Cultural barriers and solutions related to the implementation of flexible working: review of the literature [FutureNHS – registration required]
Kings Fund 2021
  • In the NHS People Plan there is a strong focus providing staff the opportunity to work flexibly, with the ambition to make flexible working the norm. This review of the literature by the Kings Fund seeks to understand how to implement a flexible working culture in the NHS.
  • See the FutureNHS Flexible working in the NHS workspace for other articles and research [registration required]

2 December 2021

Briefing on the Health and Care Bill: House of Lords second reading

Briefing on the Health and Care Bill: House of Lords second reading
Kings Fund 2 December 2021
  • The Health and Care Bill (House of Lords Bill 2021–22) introduces new measures to promote and enable collaboration in health and care, building on earlier recommendations made by NHS England and NHS Improvement in 2019. The Bill also contains new powers for the Secretary of State to intervene in the health and care system, and targeted changes to public health, social care, and the oversight of quality and safety. This briefing focuses on Parts 1 and 6 of the Bill, which deal with the NHS and its relationships to other parts of the system, including the powers of the Secretary of State, plus changes to the cap on social care costs.
  • The House of Lords Second reading will take place on Tuesday 7 December

1 December 2021

NHS backlogs and waiting times in England

NHS backlogs and waiting times in England
NAO 1 December 2021
  • This report looks in detail at backlogs and waiting times for elective and cancer care in the NHS in England. It explains how the current increased backlogs and waiting times have arisen, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The report sets out:
    • how waiting times performance for elective and cancer care are tracked in the NHS, and how long patients have been waiting relative to the performance standards;
    • the causes of increasing longer waits before the pandemic and the disruption caused by the pandemic; and
    • the steps the Department and NHSE&I have already taken to address the increasing backlogs and waiting times, and the constraints and challenges the NHS faces in making a full recovery.
  • The NAO intends to follow this report with a second one, which will describe the NHS’s plans to improve this situation and evaluate its early progress.

People at the Heart of Care: adult social care reform white paper (and evidence review)

People at the Heart of Care: adult social care reform white paper
DHSC 1 December 2021
  • This white paper sets out government plans to transform the adult social care system in England. It includes new investments in:
    • housing and home adaptations
    • technology and digitisation
    • workforce training and wellbeing support
    • support for unpaid carers, and improved information and advice
    • innovation and improvement
  • See Transforming Social Care

Evidence review for adult social care reform
DHSC 1 December 2021
  • A technical evidence paper outlining trends and challenges in adult social care based of the current adult social care system in England. The review outlines data end evidence on:
    • the rising demand for care and financial implications of this
    • the resilience of the different aspects of adult social care
    • its interface with wider systems

30 November 2021

Timely access to care: Principles for recovery

Timely access to care: Principles for recovery
National Voices November 2021
  • Timely access to care is now the most pressing concern of people who live with ill health, disability or impairment, and what they talk to National Voices members about. National Voices have created recommendations for government and system leaders, for people planning and delivering services and for the VCSE, including National Voices.

Nowhere else to turn: exploring high intensity use of accident and emergency services,

Nowhere else to turn: exploring high intensity use of accident and emergency services
Red Cross November 2021
  • People who frequently attend accident and emergency (A&E) make up less than 1 per cent of the population, but account for a significant proportion of all A&E attendances, ambulance journeys and hospital admissions. It is estimated they cost the NHS at least £2.5 billion per year. 
  • This report explores the profile and experiences of people who frequently attend A&E and considers what needs to be done to ensure that more people can be supported in the community, before they reach a crisis that leads to the door of the emergency department. It shows the clear link between high intensity use and wider inequalities.

29 November 2021

NHS Innovation Service

NHS Innovation Service
  • The NHS Innovation Service acts as an ‘information gateway’ to support NHS Staff developing new innovative products, services or initiatives in healthcare (‘innovators’), to understand processes such as the regulations and standards they will need to meet, the real-world evidence they will need to demonstrate, and NHS procurement and reimbursement processes. It will also be a single entry point for innovators to register for support and/or to apply for certain programmes.

26 November 2021

COVID Oximetry @home evaluation Interpretation of findings

COVID Oximetry @home evaluation Interpretation of findings
Nuffield Trust November 2021
  • This reports presents the interpretation of the findings across three independent separate evaluations into the impact of the COVID Oximetry @home (CO@h) programme.

25 November 2021

Non-clinical community interventions: a systematised review of social prescribing schemes

Non-clinical community interventions: a systematised review of social prescribing schemes,
Arts & Health, 10:2, 97-123, DOI: 10.1080/17533015.2017.1334002

Abstract
Background: This review focused on evaluation of United Kingdom social prescribing schemes published in peer-reviewed journals and reports. Schemes, including arts, books, education and exercise “on prescription” refer patients to community sources of non-clinical intervention.
Method: A systematised review protocol appraised primary research material evaluating social prescribing schemes published 2000–2015. Searches were performed in electronic databases using keywords, and articles were screened for evaluation of patient data, referral process, assessment method and outcomes; non-evaluated articles were excluded.
Results: Of 86 schemes located including pilots, 40 evaluated primary research materials: 17 used quantitative methods including 6 randomised controlled trials; 16 qualitative methods, and 7 mixed methods; 9 exclusively involved arts on prescription.
Conclusions: Outcomes included increase in self-esteem and confidence; improvement in mental well-being and positive mood; and reduction in anxiety, depression and negative mood. Despite positive findings, the review identifies a number of gaps in the evidence base and makes recommendations for future evaluation and implementation of referral pathways.

Widening access to Health Inequalities Improvement Dashboard

Widening access to Health Inequalities Improvement Dashboard
NHS England 25 November 2021

  • Information about the Health Inequalities Improvement Dashboard which is available to regions, systems, primary care networks, NHS providers and local authorities to see their own local data.
  • The new process to access the dashboard will be through the Equality and Health Inequalities Network – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform.

23 November 2021

Putting data, digital and tech at the heart of transforming the NHS

Putting data, digital and tech at the heart of transforming the NHS
DHSC 23 November 2021
  • This independent review from Laura Wade-Gery considers how to ensure a coherent approach to digital transformation in the NHS national bodies. The review argues for a shift in culture, operating model, skills, capabilities and processes to put data, digital and technology at the heart of health service transformation. The goal is to build on progress made by NHS Digital and NHSX during the past 2 years of the pandemic and ensure the national NHS (defined as NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI), NHSX (X) and NHS Digital (D)) can lead the transformation of the wider healthcare system, supporting integrated care systems (ICSs) to deliver better citizen health. 
  • The review identified 6 areas where the current situation could be improved. Transformation model; Funding and benefits; Leadership; Capabilities; Data and technology; and Organisational responsibilities.

Good health and Wellbeing – Social Prescribing: Global Social Prescribing Alliance Playbook

Good health and Wellbeing – Social Prescribing: Global Social Prescribing Alliance Playbook
Global Social Prescribing Alliance 2021
  • The Global Social Prescribing Playbook is aimed at people and organisations leading local, national, and international implementation of social prescribing. The Playbook aims to:
    • Explain what social prescribing is and clarify the role of the link worker
    • Help leaders to plan how they can work with community groups, voluntary organisations and civic society to increase the number of community activities available, including across physical activity, financial wellbeing, arts and culture and nature
    • Outline the impact of social prescribing and the opportunity it brings to people, society, economy and healthcare system
    • Outline the building blocks of social prescribing
    • Provide helpful self-assessment checklists and tools to help leaders to work co-productively with communities
    • Support leaders to get clinical engagement and develop clinical champions for social prescribing
    • Outline helpful ways to set up impact monitoring for social prescribing