The Honest Broker Service can help HSC organisations in conducting audits / service evaluation activities by providing access to data stored in the Regional Data Warehouse.
Who can apply to use the Internal Service?
- Department of Health
- HSC Organisations which have signed up to the Memorandum of Understanding
The internal application process is not the same as the research application process. The HBS will provide the same advice and support to the applicant as for a research project, however these internal applications do NOT require HSC Data Access Committee or ethical approval, and as such can often result in relatively quick access to the data with few barriers. The process is simple:
- Identify Audit / Service evaluation need
- Search data available through HBS (visit our metadata page for more info)
- Contact the HBS to discuss your requirements.
- Complete Internal Application Form
- Submit to HBS for approval by Data Owners
HBS will supply the applicant with all relevant policies and guidance required to complete the application.
Once the application is approved, the Regional Data Warehouse / HBS will collate the required data from the available data sources, ensuring that only the specified fields are available to the applicant and that all appropriate date restrictions have been applied. HBS will also de-identify the data to protect service user confidentiality. HBS will then arrange access to the finalised dataset, either via BOXI or secure network drive on an HSC networked computer, or in .csv format.
Previous Internal HSC data applications include:
- H010: Admissions and Discharges request looking at 30-day mortality following primary Percutaneous coronary intervention for STEMI. (Public Health Agency Clinical Audit)
- H013: To determine if men are prescribed the appropriate medications to reduce their cardiovascular risk following a diagnosis of a small or medium AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm) by the screening programme. (Public Health Agency Service Evaluation)
- H022: Analysis of A&E attendances by nursing home location (RQIA Service Evaluation)
- H067: Neurology Waiting Times Analysis (HSCB Clinical Audit)
If you’d like to discuss a data request for a clinical audit or service evaluation project, please use the Contact Us form.
Please download the Internal Application Form using the link below: