Public health datasets

Introduction

There are a lot of websites around which carry UK public health data; their ease of use and the recency of data presented varies quite considerably, but here are some of the better ones.  Do let me know of any major omissions - thanks.  You may also be interested in the directory page on information and intelligence.

Neighbourhood profiling

Neighbourhood statistics
Excellent site run by ONS which spews out detailed information on your postcode / superoutput area / ward / local authority / PCT of choice.  Includes Census population statistics, standardised mortality ratios (SMRs), teenage conception rates and synthetic healthy lifestyle indicators.  Tip: if you can't find a dataset you think should be available, try browsing by topic first, then choose your geographical area of interest

Community health profiles
Concise four page summaries of local health indicators for every PCT/local authority in England, produced by the regional public health observatories.  A good introduction to the public health problems in a local area

Audit Commission summaries
Wide array of data, both on health and local government services, collated by local authority

Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)
IMD is a measure of deprivation produced for every superoutput area in England, comprising seven deprivation 'domains'.  An overall score is also given.  The Communities and Local Government website lists all the IMDs at local authority level - updated in December 2007 - with superoutput area and ward figures available on the Neighbourhood statistics site

Lifestyle data

General Household Survey (GHS)
Large annual survey in Great Britain carried out by ONS containing questions on education, employment, health and lifestyle (including alcohol and tobacco use)

Health Survey for England (HSE)
Annual survey commissioned by the Department of Health to look specifically at health indicators including alcohol and tobacco use

Smoking, alcohol and drug use statistics
Collated on the DH website

Contraception and sexual health survey data
From the Omnibus survey

Health service activity data

Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) statistics
General Practice (GP) data recorded under the nGMS contract.  Includes number of registered patients, disease prevalence and clinical indicator data at practice level.  More background information on QOF is on the DH website

Healthcare Resource Groups (HRG) data
HRGs are used to record hospital episodes according to the diagnosis or treatment given, including emergency and elective activity. Quite a broad brush, but interesting nonetheless.  More background information on HRGs is on The Information Centre site

HESonline
General hospital episode statistics (HES) data

Care Quality Commission
Includes data from patient and staff surveys on NHS care

NHS Comparators (requires NHS N3 connection)
Relatively new password-protected site for N3 (NHS internal network) users allowing detailed comparisons in hospital activity between your PCT and others locally and nationally.  Very easy to use and comprehensive.  If you work in the NHS you can apply for a password.

Health protection statistics

Immunisation statistics
Collated on the DH website, including summarised COVER data

Infection report archives
Carried on the Health Protection Agency (HPA) website, include HIV and other STIs (including GUM clinic waiting times - to be compiled from 2008 by DH), vaccine-preventable, enteric, and respiratory infection rates

Occupational health statistics

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics
Information on work-related morbidity and mortality

Welfare and employment statistics

Benefits data
Collated by the Department for Work & Pensions.

Labour market statistics
From Nomis, which also collates together lots of other useful data on employment, qualifications and earnings

General resources

Office of National Statistics (ONS)
UK-wide statistics on just about anything, including lots of health indicators and population statistics

National Centre for Health Outcomes Development (NCHOD)
Extensive collection of datasets and links to external sets, covering a wide range of mortality, morbidity, incidence and hospital activity indicators, including cancer data.  In case you're wondering, contains the Clinical and Health Outcomes Knowledge Base, which replaced the Compendium of Clinical and Health Indicators, which itself replaced the Public Health Common Data Set (PHCDS), obviously. Regularly updated.  Note that there is also an NHS-only version with a bit more detailed data, accessible only on the NHS intranet

Department of Health (DH)
Lots of statistics carried directly on the site, and collated links to data carried elsewhere.  Includes community care services, NHS staff, and screening data

The Information Centre
Multitude of datasets, including stop smoking (smoking cessation) service, and immunisation statistics

Scottish Health Statistics
Statistics from north of the border

NHS Wales Health statistics
Welsh health statistics