NHS test and trace statistics: statement of voluntary application of the Code of Practice for Statistics
Updated 24 June 2020
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2020
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Introduction
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) publishes weekly statistics about coronavirus (COVID-19) testing and tracing. These figures report on the operational and management information derived from the Test and Trace programme in England.
Our publications are categorised as experimental statistics and this statement outlines the steps we have taken towards voluntary compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.
The code is built around 3 main concepts, or pillars:
- trustworthiness – having confidence in the people and organisations that produce statistics and data
- quality – data and methods that produce assured statistics
- value – publishing statistics that support society’s needs for information
The following describes how the pillars of the Code have been applied in a proportionate way.
Trustworthiness
The figures are based on management information from the NHS Test and Trace Service, currently in England only.
To support the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, this management information is part of the operational management of the service and has been seen in advance by ministers and officials.
These statistics have been developed under guidance from the UKHSA head statistician. In addition, UKHSA is working closely with the Office for Statistics Regulation and the Office for National Statistics who provide challenge and scrutiny to the robustness of the figures and clarity of the supporting commentary.
These figures are published at the earliest opportunity and will now be published on a regular weekly schedule. Going forward we aim to formally pre-announce the publication date to ensure that all users are aware of the publication date.
Previous releases will remain available to view. We will not routinely revise previous weeks’ figures, but the most recent publication will contain an up to date time series with all previous weeks’ data revised. Where figures have been revised, this will be made clear.
Additional data tables, including time series information, are published alongside the main statistical release. A detailed methodology document has also been made available.
Quality
The figures provided are compiled by professional analysts using the latest available data and applying methods using their professional judgement. They have been quality assured by analysts within both the NHS Test and Trace programme and the wider UKHSA.
Given the importance of this service and the commitment of the NHS Test and Trace Service to be open and transparent with the public it serves, these data are being released at the earliest possible opportunity. However, new IT systems and statistical outputs often take a period of time to bed in. These data should therefore be treated with caution as the system and understanding of the data develops.
The data presented is derived from the NHS Test and Trace Service in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Tracing data cannot be compared against other sources as part of the quality assurance process; testing data, when included, will be checked for consistency against published daily testing figures.
Advice from the Office of National Statistics has been sought in publishing these figures.
Value
In publishing this data, we aim to provide evidence for ministers, policy makers and external stakeholders on how the NHS contact tracing programme is being delivered.
These figures contribute to the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The timeliness of the data allows for regular monitoring of the public’s response to the contact tracing programme.
Making this information available helps reduce the administrative burden of answering Parliamentary Questions, Freedom of Information requests and other queries on the NHS Test and Trace Service.
The figures and analysis presented will evolve over time to ensure the most relevant information is included and the needs of stakeholders are met.
These figures will be initially published weekly, and we will continuously evaluate the frequency based on need and public interest.