Improving data quality
Since 2007, the Audit Commission has delivered an assurance programme for Payment by Results (PbR), the NHS tariff for paying acute hospitals. Our work comprises analysis, research, pilot reviews, benchmarking and an audit programme that has checked the accuracy of over £200 million of payments under PbR.
The focus of our work is to improve the quality of data that underpins payments under PbR, but the data we review is also of wider importance to the NHS as it's used to plan and oversee healthcare provision. It also supports effective commissioning.
The development of the award winning National benchmarker allows PCTs and trusts to review and identify not only data quality issues but also to review efficiency and productivity. It is the only independent and comprehensive data quality programme within the NHS.
PbR Data Assurance Framework 2012/13 programme
We have published our work programme for 2012/13. The Audit Commission is changing the arrangements for delivering the PbR data assurance framework. The programme in 2012/13 is likely to be the final year of a Commission managed Framework.
Details of the full programme were published in March 2012. See:
National data assurance audit programme
We delivered a full programme of data assurance reviews in 2011/12 at all acute and specialist NHS trusts and foundation trusts. We reviewed the accuracy of clinical coding and other data that impacts on payments under PbR. The data set audited was:
- Clinical coding - procedure and diagnosis coding;
- Length of Stay;
- Age on admission;
- Sex; and
- Admission method.
The audits cover 200 Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs) - 100 FCEs randomly selected from all PbR activity across the Trust and 100 FCEs from a specialty agreed by the lead commissioner.
The NHS Information Centre provided the data sample to the Audit Commission. Clinical coding auditors checked the data sample against the patient record to test it is accurate.
We are in the process of issuing final reports to commissioners and trusts. We will publish a national report and put audit results on our website in Summer 2012.
Evaluation of three years of the PbR Data Assurance Framework
We have carried out an evaluation of the first three years of the Framework to assess how well it has achieved its objectives of driving local improvements in the quality of data and to provide national assurance of the data used in the PbR system.
Guidance for 2011/12 and past work programme
Guidance for the 2011/12 work programme and our past work programme from 2007 until 2011 is also available.