Identifying problems with data collection at a local level: survey of NHS maternity units in England

Objectives To document the extent to which maternity data are collected and how they are recorded, and to identify problems that may affect their avai lability throughout the NHS. Methods Postal survey in September 1997 with structured questionnaires. Setting 207 NHS trusts with maternity units in England. Participants Heads of midwifery in maternity units. Main outcome measures Extent to which maternity data were routinely recorde d, how they were recorded and evaluated, and to whom they were made availab le. Results 167 (81%) of questionnaires were returned, representing 166 trusts. Of these trusts, 165 collected greater than or equal to 17 of the 19 data items in HES maternity tail, and 158 collected greater than or equal to 40 of the 45 items selected from Korner dataset Only 18 collected all five ite ms selected from the "indicators of success," and 17 did not collect any. I n 58 of trusts data were primarily recorded on paper. A computerised matern ity information system was used by 106 (63%) of trusts, but many recorded d ata on paper first. Thirty four did not audit data for accuracy. Most trust s analysed data not routinely collected at national level, but 18 did not a nalyse HES maternity tail and 17 did not analyse Korner data. Conclusions Improvement is needed in quality, completeness, and availabilit y of maternity data at a national level, particularly if the NHS informatio n strategy is to be successfully implemented. Although most of the data ite ms in national datasets are recorded locally, variations in the way data ar e defined, recorded, and analysed and lack of linkage between computer syst ems restrict their access, availability, and use at local, district, and na tional levels.