Description

This paper reviews the quality, content and accessibility

of routine accident data in a typical English Health Authority

area and assesses how this has changed over the last decade.

Information relating to key sources of local accident data

within Leeds Health Authority area was collected by semi-structured

interview using a standard proforma. The review demonstrated

that improvements in information technology have made accident

data more accessible and analysis more timely. However, serious

deficiencies remain including: a lack of information on the

circumstances and severity of injury, poor data quality and

inadequate quality control procedures. The reasons for this

apparent lack of progress are unclear but may be political,

financial or technical. The considerable changes currently

taking place in how information is managed within the NHS

provide an opportunity to address some of the inadequacies

of the current accident data sources.