PRIMIS+ facilitator, Rachel Duck **, has initiated a number of projects designed to facilitate good quality data in Hambleton and Richmondshire practices.

These projects include:

• Training in the principles of good data quality
• Training on the structure and use of Read codes
• Utilising the PCT's background in comparative audit. Up to 100 practices across four PCTs have been auditing ischeamic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and asthma annually for the past six years. The collaborative figures have been used to produce prevalences and county-wide averages for individual PCT reports
• Rationalising the varying 80-plus referral forms in use within the PCT through a new, generic form for the use of most departments
• Developing resources to help ease the complex aspects of the new GMS contract by giving presentations for practice staff, including training on the building and validation of disease registers
• Reference documentation
• Individual practice visits to address specific coding issues and concerns

* Since this case study was first produced, Hambleton and Richmondshire was amalgamated into North Yorkshire and York PCT, following the 2006 PCT restructuring.

** Rachel left the PCT in 2007.