Health Statistics Users Group
Workshop on Tuesday 29th March 2011, 2pm – 4pm
Royal Statistical Society, 12 Errol Street, London EC1Y 8LK
This workshop will discuss death certification reforms and the possible implications that these will have on mortality statistics.
The workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about the new processes of death certification being introduced by the Department of Health, involving the appointment of independent medical examiners to scrutinise and confirm the certified causes of all deaths not investigated by a coroner. The introduction of medical examiners and the scrutiny they provide is expected to improve the quality (e.g. the precision and completeness) of the cause of death recorded on the MCCD and, consequently, have an impact on the statistics that the Office for National Statistics publish on deaths by cause. ONS will present some analysis from data collected as part of piloting the new process alongside the existing processes in seven areas in England and Wales. This will give an indicative assessment of any discontinuities that may be created by the new system and their impact on historical trends of important cause groups.
There will also be an opportunity for members to discuss the implications of any discontinuities that are identified. ONS would particularly welcome input on:
· The importance of any discontinuities on the way mortality data is used.
· The methods that can be used to measure any discontinuities.
· The best way(s) to inform people and organisations that use mortality statistics of how the new process will change the data they use.
The meeting will include:
· A presentation by Simon Bennett providing an overview of the reforms; Simon is DH Deputy Director and Head of Clinical Governance as well as SRO for the Death Certification Programme.
· A presentation by Lucy Vickers and Lois Cook from ONS’s Centre for Health Analysis and Life Events, on indicative analysis and its results;
· A workshop style session to discuss the questions outlined earlier.
More information about this event can be obtained from Jane Carter ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>). Please register for the event by e-mailing [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.
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