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Data Quality

The Data Quality Team helps ensure that the data used across NHS England is accurate, complete and reliable. Good‑quality data supports safe care, confident decision‑making and better outcomes for patients and communities.

We work as part of the wider Tech and Data Integration (TDI) function. Our role is to make sure data is trusted from the moment it is collected through to how it is used in planning, analysis and reporting.

Data quality describes how well data meets essential standards such as accuracy, consistency and timeliness.

Good data quality helps the NHS understand what is happening across health and care. It reduces errors, supports better insights and increases confidence in the information we publish and use.

From this page, you can explore:

  • what data quality means
  • how we are improving data quality across NHS England
  • the tools, products and guidance we are developing
  • where to go for help or to raise a data quality issue

This page also acts as a central gateway for anyone who needs support with data quality.

What does data quality mean?

Data quality is about how accurate, complete, valid and timely data is for its intended purpose.

High‑quality data helps the NHS make informed decisions, plan services and deliver safe, effective care.

Poor data quality can lead to misleading conclusions, wasted resources and poorer outcomes for patients and service users.

Why does data quality matter?

High‑quality data supports:

  • Better patient outcomes: Reliable data enables safer care, clearer insights and coordinated decision‑making.
  • Evidence‑based planning: Teams across the NHS can trust the information they use to design and improve services.
  • Efficient use of time and resources: Good data reduces manual corrections and duplicated checks.
  • Trust and transparency: Users can rely on national data, increasing confidence across the health and care system.

How we improve data quality

Improve data documentation

We are strengthening how data is described and assured by:

  • establishing metadata standards
  • increasing transparency of national data checks
  • improving systems for identifying missing or invalid data
  • exploring a data profiling tool
  • integrating quality indicators within the future NHS England Data Catalogue

Improve data quality reporting

We want data quality information to be consistent and easy to use. We are:

  • consulting with providers and customers to improve reports
  • exploring a national service for reporting and monitoring issues
  • setting internal performance indicators
  • extending the Data Quality Maturity Index (DQMI)
  • working with external users to refine and improve reporting

Work in partnership with local teams

We collaborate across the NHS to:

  • reduce duplicated assurance work
  • publish the NHS Data Rules Library
  • publish the NHS Data Quality Strategy and Framework
  • understand local challenges with central submissions
  • provide routes to raise issues, ask questions and share learning

Contact the team