Problems of having to deal with each school as a separate entity with its own autonomy. The providers of data are not often the users of the data therefore have no vested interest in its quality. Trusts should consider moving towards online, distributed systems. Users are often presented with raw data in tabular form with no analysis and no attempt to present graphically. It is not easy to interrogate some systems with only a menu of routine reports available to users that is restrictive and takes an inordinate time to be enhanced or increased.
Some users have difficulty in framing questions well.
Much time can be wasted creating reports that do not meet the user s requirements. Users are not necessarily aware of the data held in the system and how to use it effectively in their work. When data is to be compared with other trusts there is often an incompatibility in the way the data has been processed. This is being addressed in essential core data set and the above data quality work. Still a myth that data in child health systems is inaccurate and useless.