The Minimum Data Set (MDS) for Specialist Palliative Care Services

The Minimum Data Set (MDS) was developed in 1995 by the National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services (now known as the National Council for Palliative Care) in association with the Hospice Information Service at St. Christopher’s Hospice, London. In 1996 its use was commended to the NHS by the Department of Health in Executive Letter 96(85).

The aim of the project is to provide good quality comprehensive data about hospice and specialist palliative care services. A Data Manual details the data to be collected. Annual data collection of aggregated patient data from each of the palliative care services, including inpatient care, home care, day care and hospital support, provides information which is used for strategic planning as well as local service management. This includes information about patient characteristics as well as about service uptake.

MDS Full Report for the year 2006/07

The NCPC has now published its "National Survey of Patient Activity Data for Specialist Palliative Care Services - MDS Full Report for the year 2006-07". This full report contains vital statistics from services across the UK. This is the 12th report from NCPC since the introduction of the Minimum Data Sets Project in 1995.

December 2007, 36 Pages. To download sample pages from this publication please go to free downloads section by clicking here. Subscribers can download the complete report from the Online Library section of the website. If you wish to buy a PDF of the complete report, please email publications@ncpc.org.uk

MDS Project Update including 2006/07 data - Briefing

The Minimum Data Sets are the National Survey of Patient Activity Data for Specialist Palliative Care Services. The survey celebrates its 12th year and continues to be a key source of information on NHS and voluntary sector services. The Minimum Data Sets are the UK’s only continuous source of data from both NHS and voluntary sector palliative care services.

December 2007, 8 Pages, £8.00. To order this publication, please go to publications section by clicking here.

Contact for further information: mds@ncpc.org.uk