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Following Shipman: Finding killers with the NHS data detectives

1,017 views · Published 9 November 2015 · 55:53 · Indexed 19 October 2026

Channel: Imperial College London · 2015 · Science & Technology

In the UK health sector, recent controversy around the collection of patient data has only been exceeded by reports of institutional failings. Perhaps both these concerns could be addressed by being clearer to the public about the value of smartly collected data in improving quality and safety in healthcare?

Professor Paul Aylin has worked for the last decade to show how overlooked administrative data can identify anomalies worthy of investigation. After creating algorithms to pick out outliers such the Bristol heart scandal and the patients of convicted murderer Harold Shipman, Paul’s team looked at above-expected death rates for a range of conditions and procedures within hospitals. Together they repeatedly identified Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust as worthy of investigation, leading to the initial review which prompted a number of high profile inquiries.

Paul’s lecture will chart the history of patient data statistics in healthcare to show the benefits of these rich sources of data. He will bring the story right up to date with new research on patient care during hospitals out-of-hours, and safety in primary care.

Interact about this event on social media via the hashtag #datadetectives

Professor Paul Aylin is based in the School of Public Health at Imperial College London and is co-director of the Dr Foster Unit. He trained in Public Health Medicine and spent three years at the Office for National Statistics before coming to Imperial in 1997. He became a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine in 2001. He is a non-executive director at West London Mental Health NHS Trust.

His current research focuses on exploring variations in indicators of quality and safety using routinely collected administrative data including: out of hours hospital mortality; continuous monitoring of performance and safety; casemix adjustment; time to operation for fractured neck of femur; the August effect; cancer care and indicators for late diagnosis. He has been an expert witness to both the Bristol and the Shipman Inquiry, and was instrumental in prompting the original Health Care Commission investigation into emergency services at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust

Following Shipman: Finding killers with the NHS data detectives

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