Supporting world class commissioning

PCTs are no longer simply the providers of healthcare services, they are local leaders of the NHS. The 11 organisational competencies within the World Class Commissioning (WCC) assurance process set out the knowledge, skills, behaviours and characteristics you must achieve in order to be World class commissioners.

Competency 5 underpins WCC and is the one you need to master in order to deliver high quality services for local people. It examines how well your organisation manages knowledge and undertakes regular needs assessments that establish a full understanding of current and future local health needs and requirements.

We provide access to a variety of essential information services to support competency 5.

Our commissioning cycle will guide you through the range of services we have - providing you with data to assess the health needs of your local population.

Watch our Supporting World Class Commissioning video

The Commissioning Cycle

Click on each section to access all our online resources

Monitoring and Evaluation

To measure the effectiveness of your commissioning, you can utilise:


World Class Commissioning Data Packs

A range of indicators to support your organisation through the World Class Commissioning Assurance process.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:PDF
  • Access:Available to all NHS
  • User type:Information consumer
  • Data view:Multiple
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:Quarterly and annual updates

NHS Comparators

Appraise local in/outpatient disease area activity, costs, outcomes, and identifying prescribing activity.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:User defined set reports
  • Access:Registered NHS users
  • User type:Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view:National, SHA, PCT, practice, provider level and user defined groups (eg PBC)
  • Data source:SUS, QOF, HES, prescribing data, GP practice information
  • Latest data release:Regular Updates

Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)

Resourcing healthcare based on practice-level prevalence data.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Online database, Excel spreadsheets, PDF bulletin report
  • Access:Available to all
  • User type:Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view:National, SHA, PCT, practice level
  • Data source:QMAS
  • Latest data release:Annually

Patient Record Outcome Measures (PROMs)

Measuring quality from the patient perspective.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:
  • Access:
  • User type:
  • Data view:n/a
  • Data source:
  • Latest data release:

Social care user experience surveys

An important measure of social care is what the service users themselves think of the care they have been given.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:PDF and hard copy reports
  • Access:Available to all
  • User type:Information consumer, Information analyst
  • Data view:National data
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:Annual throughout the year

National Clinical Audit Support Programme

Compare clinical conditions and treatment received for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and renal services.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:PDF and hard copy reports
  • Access:Available to all
  • Special access:NDA only - NHS authorised access to online benchmarking toolkits
  • User type:Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view:National - all SHA and PCT
  • Data source:The NHS IC/ HQIP
  • Latest data release:Annual - throughout year

Health Survey for England

Annual snapshot of the nation's health and health needs.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Excel spreadsheet with tables, PDF report
  • Access:Available to all
  • User type:Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view:National, Government Office region level
  • Data source:The NHS IC
  • Latest data release:Annually

Over 120 health and social care publications

Comprehensive insight into disability, older people, screening, eye care, maternity, general practice, and mental health.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:PDF, Excel spreadsheet, tables
  • Access:Available to all
  • User type:Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view:National and multiple
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:Regular updates

NASCIS (The National Adult Social Care Information Service)

Access to a suite of tools, which enable effective and timely analysis of social care data

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Charts, graphs, Excel spreadsheets
  • Access:Available to all NHS and Local Authority (LA)
  • User type:Information Consumer
  • Data view:Multiple
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:Quarterly & annual updates

Indicators for Quality Improvement (IQI)

A resource of robust indicators to help local clinical teams select indicators for local quality improvement

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Data tables
  • Access:Open access
  • User type: Information Consumer
  • Data view:Single
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:Regularly refreshed

Strategic planning

To assess public needs, review the services you provide, and identify priorities for delivery, you can utilise:


Joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA)

JSNA core dataset focussing on a list of indicators, cross-tabulated against Vital Signs and the National Indicator Set.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:
  • Access:
  • User type:
  • Data view:n/a
  • Data source:
  • Latest data release:

World Class Commissioning Data Packs

A range of indicators to support your organisation through the World Class Commissioning Assurance process.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:PDF
  • Access:Available to all NHS
  • User type:Information consumer
  • Data view:Multiple
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:Quarterly and annual updates

Compendium of Public Health Indicators

How are you performing against over 250 public health indicators?

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Charts, graphs, Excel spreadsheets
  • Access:Available to all
  • User type:Information analyst
  • Data view:National, Government Office regions, ONS areas, LA, SHA, PCT level
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:February 2009

Health Poverty Index

Compare the indicators that influence health inequalities between different areas.

What you need to know about this link.

About the Health Poverty Index (HPI)

  • Format:Charts/ tables, graphs, Excel spreadsheets
  • Access:Available to all
  • User type:Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view:National, LA, ONS area level
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:Regular Updates

Social care publications and statistics

A range of social care topics are covered. Browse the resource by topic and specialist area.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:PDF, Excel spreadsheet tables
  • Access:Available to all
  • User type:Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view:National, LA level
  • Data source:The NHS IC
  • Latest data release:Annually

National Diabetes Audit

The NDA is considered to be the largest annual clinical audit in the world. It provides an infrastructure for the collation, analysis, benchmarking and feedback of local clinical data.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:PDF and Dashboard
  • Access:Available to all
  • User type:Diabetes Informatics Staff, Commissioners
  • Data view:National and PCT Level
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:June 2009

NHS Comparators

Supports practice-based commissioning by understanding local activity, costs, and outcomes.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Online user defined set reports
  • Access:Registered NHS users
  • User type:Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view:National, SHA, PCT, practice, provider level and user defined groups (eg PBC)
  • Data source:SUS, QOF, HES, prescribing data, GP practice information
  • Latest data release:Regular Updates

Lifestyle publications

Insight into alcohol consumption, obesity, smoking, drug misuse, and specialist surveys relating to young people.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Tables, Excel spreadsheets, PDFs
  • Access:Available to all
  • User type:Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view:National, some SHA and PCT level
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:Annually

Programme budgeting

Plan budgets using NHS Comparators and Compendium of Public Health Indicators.

What you need to know about this link.

NHS Comparators
  • Format:User defined set reports
  • Access:Registered NHS users
  • User type:Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view:National, SHA, PCT, practice, Provider level and user defined groups (eg PBC)
  • Data source:SUS, QOF, HES, prescribing data, GP practice information
  • Latest data release:Regular updates
Compendium of Public Health Indicators
  • Format:Charts, graphs, Excel spreadsheets
  • Access:Available to all
  • User type:Information analyst
  • Data view:National, Government Office regions, ONS areas, LA, SHA, PCT level
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:February 2009

NASCIS (The National Adult Social Care Information Service)

Access to a suite of tools, which enable effective and timely analysis of social care data

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Charts, graphs, Excel spreadsheets
  • Access:Available to all NHS and Local Authority (LA)
  • User type:Information Consumer
  • Data view:Multiple
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:Quarterly & annual updates

Procuring services

To inform your procurement activity, you can utilise:


iView Workforce

Online resource enabling NHS workforce planning, using statistics on NHS staff numbers, earnings, turnover, and vacancies.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:User defined reports and data extracts
  • Access:Authorised NHS users
  • User type:Information analyst
  • Data view:National, SHA and Trust level and user defined groups
  • Data source:Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and other sources
  • Latest data release:Monthly

World Class Commissioning Data Packs

A range of indicators to support your organisation through the World Class Commissioning Assurance process.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:PDF
  • Access:Available to all NHS
  • User type:Information consumer
  • Data view:Multiple
  • Data source:Multiple
  • Latest data release:Quarterly and annual updates

Mental Health Minimum Dataset (MHMDS)

Contains record level data about NHS services delivered to over a million people with severe and enduring mental health problems each year between 2003 and 2008.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Excel spreadsheet reports
  • Access:Registered NHS Users
  • User type:Information Analyst
  • Data view:Provider level
  • Data source:The IC
  • Latest data release:Regular updates both quarterly and annually

Healthcare Resource Groups (HRGs)

HRG is a major revision that introduces HRGs to new clinical areas, to support the Department of Health's policy of Payment by Results (PbR).

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Excel spreadsheet reports
  • Access:Registered NHS Users
  • User type:Information Analyst
  • Data view:Provider level
  • Data source:SUS
  • Latest data release:N/A

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)

Records of all admissions to NHS hospitals in England.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:PDF, Excel spreadsheets, user defined tables
  • Access:Available to all
  • Special access:Tailor-made report service
  • User type:Information analyst
  • Data view:Provider level
  • Data source:SUS
  • Latest data release:Monthly

18 Weeks Reporting Tool

Informs resourcing based on tracking of patient progress through 18 week treatment pathways.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Online user defined reports
  • Access:Registered NHS users
  • Special access:Authorised access area
  • User type:Information analyst
  • Data view:National, PCT & provider
  • Data source:SUS
  • Latest data release:Weekly

NHS Comparators

Appraise local in/outpatient disease area activity, costs, outcomes, and identifying prescribing activity.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Online user defined set reports
  • Access:Registered NHS users
  • User type:Information consumer, Information analyst
  • Data view:National, SHA, PCT, practice, provider level and user defined groups (eg PBC)
  • Data source:SUS, QOF, HES, prescribing data, GP practice information
  • Latest data release:Regular Updates

General practice, dentistry & optometry

Statistics providing insight into earnings, expenses, levels and types of activity.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format: PDF, Excel spreadsheet
  • Access: Available to all
  • User type: Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view: National, Government Office regions, SHA and some PCT level
  • Data source: The NHS IC, The NHS Business Services Authority
  • Latest data release: Annual and quarterly

The Secondary Uses Service (SUS)

Identifies the cost of provider activity against the national tariff highlights coding activity, ensuring accuracy in provider payments.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:Online defined reports
  • Access:Registered NHS users
  • User type:Information analyst
  • Data view:National and local by SHA, PCT, provider
  • Data source:Commissioning data sets
  • Latest data release:Monthly

Estates & facilities management

The Estates and Facilities data collects annual data from trusts covering areas such as age and asset value of buildings.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format:User defined reports and data extracts
  • Access:Registered NHS users
  • User type:Information analyst
  • Data view:National, SHA and Trust level and user defined groups
  • Data source:Estates Return Information Collection (ERIC)
  • Latest data release:Annually

Patients/Public

GP Patient Survey

Insight into patient satisfaction on quality of care delivered by GPs.

What you need to know about this link.

  • Format: Online database, Excel spreadsheets, PDF bulletin
  • Access: Available to all
  • User type: Information consumer, information analyst
  • Data view: National, SHA, PCT and practice level
  • Data source: The NHS IC/ Department of Health
  • Latest data release: July 2008

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