Developing the use of primary care data Dr Azeem Majeed University College London

DH review of primary care data Identify potential customers & users of primary care data Identify potential sources of data, including strengths & weaknesses Increase awareness of how data can be used Identify options for improving accessibility, quality and usefulness of data

Methods for carrying out review of primary care data Literature review Interviews with DH & NHS staff Advice from academics & other experts Workshop on primary care data Comments on report

Why is primary care data needed? Help clinicians provide care Plan health services Monitor targets Measure clinical performance Guide clinical decisions Measure health service utilisation Health services research & epidemiology

What data are available Data collected IN primary care Data collected ON primary care

Sources of primary care data PRIMIS & MIQUEST Primary care databases, e.g., GPRD, IMS Mediplus, DIN PACT data RCGP weekly returns service PCG/T disease registers Local & regional morbidity projects

Strengths of primary care data Population based Most contacts with NHS take place in primary care Information on morbidity, treatment, outcomes & utilisation Increasing number of practices now computerised

Weaknesses of primary care data Often comes from volunteer practices & hence may not be representative Quality & completeness of data recording varies widely Lack of socio-economic & ethnic data Collected for different objectives Can be difficult & expensive to access

% Change in antibiotic prescribing : GPRD

Key questions How can awareness be increased among potential users? Should addition of socio-economic & ethnic data be a priority How can a balance be achieved between the need for local & national data How can the NHS make use of developments in primary care IT & disease registers?

Key recommendations Encourage development of PRIMIS Accreditation scheme with quality standards Make greater use of sources such as GPRD Develop centres of analytical expertise Ensure monitoring takes case-mix into account