Includes activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.

Alcohol-related admissions:

The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory.

Ungrossed data:

Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).

Data quality:

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.

Assessing growth through time:

HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity.

Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.

Assignment of episodes to years:

Years are assigned by the end of the first period of care in a patient's hospital stay.

Source:

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for Health and Social Care