Making Data Count

Making Data Count is an evidence-based approach to data analysis and presentation. It was developed by the National Health Service (NHS) England. It uses statistical process charts to display data over time and identify variation.

Rather than measuring performance, Making Data Count helps people interpret what the data is showing. It highlights signals that may need closer attention and supports teams to ask questions about what is happening and why.

We are adopting Making Data Count as part of our broader safety intelligence approach. This focuses on strengthening how the NSW Health system monitors, interprets and responds to safety risks using data. We are adopting Making Data Count across our reporting and working with NSW Health to embed its use across the system.

How Making Data Count works

For local health districts and specialty health networks, Making Data Count provides a consistent way to interpret data used in safety and quality improvement. It helps teams to:

• identify variation over time
• detect signals that may indicate emerging risks
• ask informed questions about what is driving change
• strengthen conversations at board, executive and clinical levels
• focus action on understanding and improvement.

This work supports a shift towards more consistent, data-informed decision-making across NSW Health.

We are developing resources and support to help NSW Health staff apply Making Data Count in practice. This will include guidance, templates, education sessions and examples from pilot sites. In the interim, limited resources are available through our existing channels and NHS materials.

Register to access NHS materials

Contact

For advice on applying Making Data Count to your data or reporting, email CEC-SafetyIntelligence@health.nsw.gov.au

Acknowledgement

Making Data Count was developed by NHS England. We acknowledge Samantha Riley and the NHS Futures team for sharing the methodology with NSW Health.