Table 1 Analysis of patterns and trends in reporting
AnalysesDatasets used
Trend in reporting rates over timeNo of reports to National Learning and Reporting System (NRLS) per month per hospital, provided by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)
Relationship with type/severity of incidents reportedNo of reports to NRLS per month per hospital categorised by incident type and severity, provided by the NPSA
Relationship with hospital size and characteristicsHealthcare Commission definitions of hospital type and size;20 data on patient age, gender, length of stay, and proportions of emergency and day-case admissions for 2004–2005, obtained from the Hospital Episodes Statistics website21