Data transparency site launched

The Department of Health has launched a new NHS website to improve the transparency of health data by providing easier access to information about health and care providers.

The MyNHS site went live last Friday, and links to existing data that has already been published on patient safety, efficiency, quality, public health, social care commissioning and hospital food standards.

The website has sections with quality indicators for NHS hospitals, social care data from local authorities, key public health outcomes in each local authority area, and information on the performance of public health services delivered by hospitals and GP practices within local authority areas.

The site is a joint project between the DH, NHS England, the Health and Social Care Information Centre, Public Health England and the Care Quality Commission.

It will be developed and improved over time by gathering feedback from users, allowing those from the health and care sector to make suggestions to improve data and metrics.

More data from clinical commissioning groups, GP practices, clinicians and mental health trusts will also be added “at a later date”.

The organisations say the data on the site will help clinicians, managers, patient groups and campaigners to highlight the best performing areas and improve standards through competition and transparency.

Tim Kelsey, NHS England’s director of patients and information, said the MyNHS site is “a big step forward towards our transparency vision” and supports the NHS’s status as a “global leader in openness and transparency”.

Kelsey said the site has brought together data from across the health and care system for the first time, while also presenting it in an accessible way.

“Healthcare professionals, commissioners, regulators and members of the public can then use this data to drive improvements in patient safety and quality – keeping patient outcomes at the heart.”

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said the site is “a powerful new tool that will give professionals across the healthcare system the opportunity to learn from each other and improve their services”.

 “This is the next step of the journey we are taking to create the most open and transparent healthcare system in the world.”