Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Accepted
Robust data on patient outcomes and experiences still lacking for most mental health services
Conclusion
There is a continuing lack of robust data on patient outcomes and experiences for most mental health services. Of the 29 integrated care boards surveyed by the NAO, only four said they had all or most of the data they needed to assess patient and user experiences, and none of them felt this in relation to patient outcomes. The Department stressed to us that outcomes data for talking therapies—recovery rates—are collected. NHSE agreed with us on the need for more progress and assured us that it has “a big program of work in place” this year to improve outcome measurements, including patient reported outcome measures.20
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's findings and is implementing Mental Health Services Dataset (MHSDS) updates in April 2024 and 2025 to improve data recording. NHS England aims for 50% of patients in key services to record a paired outcome score by year-end and has commissioned an independent impact evaluation of Mental Health Support Teams.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: January 2024 2.2. NHS England is working to improve the recording of information on patient need, as well as other areas, through the implementation of the Mental Health Services Dataset (MHSDS) version 6 in April 2024. The version 7 update, which is currently scheduled for April 2025, is likely to include the introduction of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) - 11 diagnostic standard, and support for the new mental health currencies in development, which will better track patient-level costs. Integrated care systems can access data from the MHSDS for commissioning services, service planning, monitoring performance and reporting on performance. 2.3 As part of improving data on patient outcomes, NHS England is aiming to have 50% of patients in Children and Young People (CYP), perinatal and adult community mental health services recording a paired outcome score (where the patients have the same outcome measure recorded at least twice so progress can be measured) by the end of the year where the outcomes data quality key performance applies, and will look to extend that target in future strategies. Furthermore, an independent impact evaluation of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) has also been commissioned via the National Institute of Health Research, which will include a cost effectiveness analysis of MHSTs. These improvements collectively will put the department and NHS England in a better position to jointly assess the effectiveness of different interventions that have been implemented and will be used to inform the creation of future strategies. 2.4 DHSC will provide an update in January 2024 as part of its joint letter with NHS England to the Committee.