Understand how we work with NICE to embed information standards into their products and digital services, so that the health and care system can implement NICE guidelines more easily, and derive greater benefit.

1. Supporting
the work of
our partners

2. 2 Copyright © 2014 Health and Social Care Information Centre
Prescribing
Use of NICE appraised medicines
Working in partnership with NICE, and with
support from the Department of Health and the
pharmaceutical industry, we produce an annual
publication exploring the Use of NICE appraised
medicines in the NHS in England. The publication
includes NICE produced estimates of predicted use
compared to HSCIC data showing observed use. For
the most recent edition a new variation approach was
developed to show medicine use over time and by
NHS organisation.
Download ‘Use of NICE appraised
medicines in the NHS in England
www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/niceappmed12
Innovation Scorecard
NICE also contribute to the development of a
quarterly HSCIC Innovation Scorecard publication
which is designed to track adoption of NICE
Technical Appraisals at a local level.
Download the latest edition of the
Innovation Scorecard at
www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/nicetechapprsep13
Analyses and data extractions
As well as providing hospital prescribing data to
NICE to inform their Technical Appraisal guidance
reviews and other work, we also carry out a variety of
analyses and data extractions. These vary in subject,
scope and complexity but many are concerned with
assessing current levels of disease and primary care
activity. A typical request might concern estimating
the prevalence of a chronic condition such as
coronary heart disease and assessing the rate of
statins prescribed to these patients. The data we
extract to fulfil these requests contributes to the
development and review of technical appraisals and
the clinical guidelines published by NICE.
Supporting the work of our partners
Who we are and
what we do
The Health and Social Care Information
Centre (HSCIC) was created as an
Executive Non Departmental Public
Body (ENDPB) in April 2013.
We employ over 2,000 staff working in 19 locations
across the UK and we oversee the implementation of
health and care programmes and services that have a
value in excess of £1bn.
Our statutory functions and duties are set out in Part
9, Chapter 2 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012–
sections 252 to 275–and in Schedule 18.
Our work includes:
• setting standards that protect patients’
confidential information, reduce bureaucracy and
improve data quality
• delivering essential technology systems
and services that support health and care
organisations
• collecting, analysing and publishing national
data and statistical information that helps inform
decision making
• providing services that support the life-science
industry and develop the UK’s health informatics
skills base
For more details on our statutory role see
www.hscic.gov.uk/whoweare
Our work with NICE

3. 3
Supporting the work of our partners
Measuring clinical
quality standards with
assured indicators
The Francis Report highlighted the
role indicators and other comparative
statistics play in measuring performance
and outcomes and it reinforced the
HSCIC’s role in producing, assuring and
publishing indicators.
As NICE develop guidance and associated quality
standards for health and social care in England we
work with them to produce technical specifications
and business rules for new indicators that will
measure these quality standards. We ensure that
indicators are tested and assured by our Indicator
Assurance Service and then published in our
national library of quality assured indicators.
We produce and publish the NHS Outcomes
Framework, Clinical Commissioning Group
Outcomes Indicator Set (CCGOIS), Adult Social Care
Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) and Quality and
Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators.
Clinical Commissioning Group
Outcomes Indicator Set
The CCGOIS measures outcomes to help inform
priority setting and drive local improvement.
Our work supports NHS England and NICE by
developing, testing and assuring the methods for
each indicator. Much of the data used is drawn from
our existing data sources from which we calculate the
indicators and publish the data.
Download CCGOIS data on our Indicator
Portal https://indicators.ic.nhs.uk
or manipulate in our iView tool
www.hscic.gov.uk/iview
Adult Social Care Outcomes
Framework indicators
The ASCOF indictors focus on the services and
interventions that support the social care needs
of service users. Data from the indicators can be
explored on our website. You can view the data
by ‘local authority’ and ‘outcome measure’ in an
interactive map.
Explore the Adult Social Care Outcomes
data at http://ascof.hscic.gov.uk
Quality and Outcomes Framework
indicators
These measure the achievement by GP practices
against indicators for appropriate provision of care
for patients with long term conditions. This data is
extracted by the HSCIC from General Practice IT
systems.
Search for and view individual practice
results at qof.hscic.gov.uk
“We will work with NICE to
embed information standards
into their products and digital
services, so that the health and
care system can implement
NICE guidelines more easily,
and derive greater benefit.”
A strategy for the Health and Social Care
Information Centre, 2014

4. Supporting the work of our partners
Indicator Assurance Service
This service is used to test the methodology of all
the indicators that we produce in conjunction with
NICE. It also supports anyone else who is looking
to develop a new national indicator by providing
an open and transparent way of assuring indicator
methodologies.
The service provides customers with:
• advice on how robust a proposed methodology is
• the opportunity to check for similar indicators –
saving duplication of effort
• assurance that the indicator answers the question
being posed and is suitable for intended audience
• recognition for your indicator, with the
opportunity to register it in a national library of
quality assured indicators
• periodic review of the methodology.
Find out more about the Indicator Assurance
Service: www.hscic.gov.uk/services
Indicator Governance Board
Robust governance is required to ensure that the
procedure for assuring indicators is followed and
controlled and the Indicator Governance Board
(IGB) is part of this process. Currently chaired by the
HSCIC, the IGB ensures that appropriate governance
is applied to all indicators going through the Indicator
Assurance Service. The role of the IGB is to:
• act as the approval gateway to the national library
of quality assured indicators for both new and
updated indicators
• prioritise work within the assurance process
• ensure that the stakeholder consultation required
to assure new indicator methodologies is
reviewed by all relevant parties
• resolve any issues related to the development of
indicator methodology.
Membership of the IGB includes representatives
from the HSCIC, NHS Trust Development Authority,
NHS England, Care Quality Commission, NICE,
Department of Health, Public Health England, Health
Education England and Monitor. Membership from
other organisations is encouraged.
To find out more, email the Indicator
Governance Board at igb@hscic.gov.uk
www.hscic.gov.uk
enquiries@hscic.gov.uk
@hscic
Improving wellbeing
through information and technology