Work to test how NHS and private/independent sector hospital performance data can be aligned has begun.
The pilots, by the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) and NHS Digital, mark a major milestone for the Acute Data Alignment Programme (ADAPt).
The joint initiative between NHS Digital and PHIN aimed at bringing data standards, measurement and reporting systems used in the private sector in line with those used in the NHS.
A consultation last year showed overwhelming support for the programme.
Now ADAPt is seeking hospitals to take part in the pilots, which will test the technical changes needed to transfer the collection of private-admitted patient data from PHIN to NHS Digital.
The ADAPt programme was initiated by the Secretary of State for Health in 2018 in the wake of the Paterson case, which saw huge numbers of breast cancer patients suffer at the hands of the rogue surgeon.
Data gathered from the pilots will be fed onto PHIN to facilitate the publication of whole-practice performance measures for hospitals and consultants offering private healthcare services, in line with the Private Healthcare Market Investigation Order 2014.
Eventually, it is expected that the national dataset will be made available through NHS Digital to regulators and public bodies to assist monitoring of safety and help drive service improvement.
