The PCT has procured a business intelligence solution from COA Solutions comprising of IBM, Cognos and COA Solution’s own software systems in a bid to track health trends in an area where the health of the population is known to be worse than the England average.

 

“With the public sector focused on innovation and efficiency, working as cost-effectively as possible is obviously a top priority”

Using the information, the organisation will now be able to more effectively fulfil regulatory requirements and improve the services it delivers to 321,000 residents.

 

Gill Galdins, the PCT’s director of corporate services said: “With the country currently experiencing a recession, it is even more important that we are providing best value for money while still improving the quality of services we deliver to the Wakefield population. We recognise we need comprehensive, accurate and timely information if we are going to achieve a good standard of regulatory compliance and improve efficiency and service delivery.”

 

 

The PCT will also make the data it collects via the business intelligence solution available to other commissioners in the area such as practice-based commissioning groups, GP surgeries and dental clinics.

Galdins said: “The ultimate goal is to provide the entire health service as well as Wakefield Council with access to the business intelligence system. This will enable the PCT to strengthen partnerships with other local sector organisations to improve both the health education and the health and well-being of local people.” 

The data is currently held in multiple systems and displayed using Excel, making it time-consuming to collate and difficult to compare. With the new system in place, the PCT will have more-timely access to information from a range of data sources, allowing analysis to be carried out in real-time. Unlike out-of-the-box business intelligence systems, the flexibility of the Wakefield solution will also allow the production of customised reports on all aspects of its performance, both now and in the future and will enable the PCT to adapt and respond quickly to new information requirements aligned with the strategic priorities for the district.

 

“Staff will be able to access all types of information relating to childhood obesity, for example, and analyse and report on this information in detail to understand the underlying factors influencing health outcomes. With this information to hand, commissioners can decide how best to tackle the issue”

Rachel Spilsbury, NHS Wakefield District’s head of information, said: “Our business intelligence project is an excellent example of best practice. It is a false economy to use a quick-fix, standardised business intelligence system in response to specific regulatory requirements. In contrast, the COA Solutions system can be configured to report on all aspects of our performance enabling us to fulfil both existing and future regulatory requirements. Importantly, by using this system we will continue to have an accurate and holistic view of the underlying needs of the Wakefield population.”

 

In accordance with the NHS World Class Commissioning Strategy, the PCT has to achieve good performance across 11 key deliverables, each of which is marked out of four, where level four is the best. The trust hopes that with the business intelligence system in place it will be able to move quickly from level two to either level three or four in the majority of competency levels. 

 

Also key will be analysis of accident and emergency attendances and emergency admissions to the PCT can implement measures to bring about reductions.

 

Galdins told HES: “The system will be used with a view to determining trends and exploring actions that can be taken to reduce unnecessary admissions, thereby cutting costs. With the public sector focused on innovation and efficiency, working as cost-effectively as possible is obviously a top priority.”