1 Health Statistics User Group 20 th Anniversary - view from HSUG Chair n Deana Leadbeter n Chair - Health Statistics User Group

2 A bit of history… n Set up 20 years ago, following initiatives by – the Statistics User Council (which has since been replaced by the Statistics Users Forum), – the Society for Social Medicine, and – the Royal Statistical Society. n More information on background and early activities from next two speakers n Other speakers will cover other areas of HSUG activities

3 Not just a celebration... n This event is also an opportunity to get comments and suggestions – to help HSUG be even more effective in the next 20 years!! n List of questions for comments on flipcharts n But feel free to add any other comments you think might be helpful

4 What has changed over 20 years in relation to: n HSUG Objectives n What HSUG does n How HSUG does it

5 Objectives of HSUG (no change - still relevant after 20 years?) 1. To foster appropriate use of statistics to improve public health and effectiveness, quality and availability of healthcare in the UK. 2. To encourage effective and useful collaboration between the Government Statistical Service and other producers and users of statistics in the health and health services field. 3. To encourage the maintenance and improvement in timeliness, accuracy, utility, relevance, accessibility and completeness of this health information. 4. To develop public confidence in the production and use of health statistics. 5. To encourage good statistical practice by efficient and appropriate utilisation of health statistics. 6. To educate and train users of health statistics

What is included in “national health statistics” – our view National health statistics = Any statistics / information relevant for national health (not the current definition of national statistics, but is the user view). n In the “paper age” information tended to be organised: – by the organisation collecting it – by the organisation analysing it n In the “electronic age” users want to be able to access the information they need, regardless of who collected it, or who analysed it n Now looking at information relating to health and social care, not just health care

HSUG Activities n Meetings: – Dissemination: To provide information on recent developments – Consultations: Meetings to stimulate debate and obtain feedback n Respond to consultations – Represent the views of health statistics users in any national discussions or consultations which are of relevance to health and health services statistics n Membership fee (now free) n Newsletter: – printed and posted to members

HSUG meetings – what has changed n Meetings - still important for: – Dissemination – Consultation, but: n More focus on ongoing User Engagement n Interactive user workshops n More consultations on which to comment (much more!) n Also: – Increase in meetings held outside London – Professional development meetings n And meetings supplemented by: – and web based dissemination (no printed Newsletter) – and web based discussions – Facilitating responses to individual user queries

HSUG professional development activities n New Health Information Specialists Conference – 1 st run in November 2007 (one day) – 2 nd run July 2008 (extended version over 2 days) n In 2009 changed to a series of (free) professional development workshops

10 HSUG web site n HSUG web site originally hosted by ONS n When SUF was set up, RSS started hosting HSUG web site n RSS has now set up StatsUserNet – a new interactive website for all users of official statistics n HSUG community on StatsUserNet is now live – and launched today!! n Information on how to access and use this will be ed to all attending this meeting.

11 HSUG Organisation n Member of the Statistics Users Forum (SUF) – more information on SUF, and role of HSUG within SUF, in presentation later by Jenny Church n Affiliated, through the Statistics Users’ Forum, to the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) n Some valuable administrative support provided by RSS, including: – Meeting rooms – Web site BUT n HSUG is still an independent separate entity, not an RSS group, which is run by volunteers and does not receive direct financial support from SUF, RSS or any other organisation

HSUG liaison with other Groups n Exchange information, and occasionally collaborate on meetings, with various user groups involved with health and social care information – ASSIST, BCS health informatics group, RSS sections, Faculty of PH Info Subgroup, PHOs n LARIA representative on HSUG committee and HSUG rep on LARIA Council – Note that LARIA is Local Area Research and Intelligence Association not Local Authority Research and Intelligence Association)

More information… n See HSUG web site n