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Better information could improve efficiency and value for money, according to the Audit Commission. Auditors warned clear decision-making by public officials is made difficult because many are swamped with too much data. The high-profile failure of public authorities to both safeguard ‘Baby Peter' in Haringey, and prevent the high number of deaths in the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, has directed attention to the accuracy and reliability of the data underpinning local service delivery. The Commission highlighted the issue in its latest report, Nothing but the truth, which called for a ‘determined attempt' to improve the quality of locally-produced data to get results. But the report also warned the public lacks trust in the institutions that govern and serve it – and this mistrust extends to the information they provide. There is also concern, particularly with the information commissioner, around how sensitive data is collected and secured by public bodies. A key issue, particularly in the Baby Peter case, was the failure of NHS, police and social services staff to share information. Although a high-profile example, the Audit Commission pointed to the problem as being key to procurement and other management decisions that will now have to improve due to pressure on spending. The report warned services cannot be ‘joined up' if one organisation distrusts another's data sets. It also proposed inspectors should give independent assurance of the credibility of information in addition to auditors' examination of accounts. The report also concluded there has been some improvement: nine out of 10 police authorities had good or excellent data quality in 2007, compared with only three in 10 in 2004. Audit Commission chief executive Steve Bundred said: ‘The issue of data quality bedevils public service. ‘The aim of this paper is to begin a conversation about what needs to be done to improve data quality in local public services, and what some of the options are to enhance effectiveness.'

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WHITEHALL

Commission urges consistency of data quality

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