Health data is a key part of the Office for National Statistics (ONS)'s work; from tracking the pandemic to charting life expectancy, measuring mortality to counting carers and disability – it allows us to build an understanding of the nation's health.
Underpinning much of this analysis are our population statistics, which show us how the characteristics of different community groups, such as ethnicity, age and living circumstances, contribute to health and health outcomes.
For example, our estimates of the number of people with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular disease living in poverty, linked health records with population data. We have also used population data to estimate the socio demographic risk factors of suicide.
These data can help decision-makers address health disparities and determine how their policies impact on people's lives.
A new system
Currently the census provides the backbone of these statistics, giving us a rich picture of our society at national and local levels every 10 years. However, the picture becomes less accurate over the decade as we move further away from the census year. The pandemic highlighted how some aspects of our society can be quickly disrupted and we need statistics that can keep pace with similar, new changes.
The ONS has developed proposals to create a new system for population data, moving away from reliance on a census. Instead, up to date administrative data – information that we all provide when we access public services like the health, tax, benefits and education systems – could be at the core of the new system. These data could be complemented by survey data with a wider range of other data sources, and a variety of statistical methods.
New insights
If implemented, the proposed system would respond more effectively to society's changing needs by giving users high-quality population statistics each year. It would also offer new and additional insights into the changes and movement of our population across different seasons or times of day. For many topics, it would provide much more local information not just once a decade but every year, exploring them in new detail and covering areas not recorded by the census, such as income. This would unlock a wide range of analysis and insights, with the potential to shine new light on many aspects of our lives.
A system that responds to needs and can deliver yearly population updates will provide invaluable insight into health. This real time information would enable healthcare planners to understand where interventions are needed the most and to see what health challenges different communities are facing. With an ageing population and increasingly complex health needs, this is ever more important.
ONS consultation
Since the summer, we have been running a public consultation about our proposals. We have set out our vision in detail, and I welcome views from across the healthcare sector on your priorities for these essential statistics, so that they can best meet the needs of everyone over the coming years.
We are asking what users need and why? If you require information on health outcomes, disability and country of birth, for example, at a neighbourhood level to make good decisions on resource allocation, we need to know about it.
However, time is running out. The consultation will close on 26 October, so if you want to have your say, do so now.
Your input will be essential evidence for the National Statistician's recommendations on the future of population and migration statistics and health data.
Have your say: Consultation on the future of population and migration statistics in England and Wales – Office for National Statistics – Citizen Space.
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