Data quality in North Devon

North Devon 2004

Carol Bedford, the PRIMIS+ facilitator* in North Devon PCT**, has overcome a number of challenging situations in this part of the South West. For instance, there are six different clinical systems in use within the PCT's 22 practices.

One particular issue for North Devon has been the effect of locum use on data quality. In the experience of North Devon PCT, locums mostly enter free text to provide additional information for others, and data quality within those practices may be compromised.

Some of the solutions which have been implemented by Carol to address this situation include: asking practices to provide an induction session and 'essential guides' for locums, equipping locums with Read codes and useful websites, and including locums in the whole team approach.

* Carol is now Acting Head of Information for Devon PCT.

** Since this case study was first produced, North Devon PCT was amalgamated into Devon PCT, following the 2006 PCT restructuring.