Benchmarking data and insight for academic research
The NHS Benchmarking Network holds one of the most comprehensive national datasets across acute, community, and mental health, learning disability and autism services, built from submissions by health and care organisations across the UK.
For universities and research institutions, this data offers a granular, real-world view of how NHS services are delivered, supporting research, policy analysis and academic study.
Two ways to work with us
Organisational Membership
Membership provides access to our anonymised benchmarking tools, reports and outputs through our members' area, including all data explorers, reports and shared learning outputs.
Membership is held at organisational level, so access can be extended across staff and students.
Membership is designed to support:
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Understanding of NHS services, datasets and benchmarking methodology
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Teaching and study using interactive tools and curated insights
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Context for research design and interpretation
Academic Data Access
Academic Data Access provides structured dataset extracts to support independent research and more detailed analysis. This includes variable-level data and longitudinal datasets spanning multiple years, subject to availability.
Access is managed through a dedicated Data Access Licence, with appropriate governance and data controls in place, and is designed to support:
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Academic research and publication
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Policy analysis and health system research
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Trend analysis and service evaluation
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Comparative analysis, including international applications
Level of detail
Membership - Aggregated outputs and curated insights
Academic Data Access - Granular, variable-level data
Primary purpose
Membership - Applied benchmarking and service understanding
Academic Data Access - Academic research and analysis
Type of access
Membership - Tools, reports and dashboards
Academic Data Access - Structured datasets and extracts
Analytical approach
Membership - Standardised benchmarking outputs
Academic Data Access - Institution-led analysis
Governance
Membership - Membership terms
Academic Data Access - Dedicated data access licence
Membership provides interpreted insight and benchmarking outputs. Academic Data Access provides the underlying data, in a controlled and governed form, for independent analysis. Used together, membership provides the context and methodology, and data access provides the analytical flexibility to generate original research.
Our data in action
Researchers at the University of Hull's NIHR Policy Research Unit in Palliative and End of Life Care used ten years of our District Nursing data to describe how community nursing services contribute to palliative and end-of-life care, analysis that relied on a consistent methodology across the full decade.
About the data
Our datasets are derived from operational benchmarking activity across NHS funded services. They are real-world operational datasets rather than controlled research datasets, reflecting voluntary submissions from NHS organisations, with participation and definitions that may vary over time.
Our analyst team can provide optional support with dataset structure, interpretation and appropriate use in research contexts.
"Access to a consistent, decade-long benchmarking dataset, and the team's support in interpreting it, made it possible to describe how community nursing services have changed over time in a way that would not otherwise have been achievable."
Professor Fliss Murtagh,
Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, University of Hull
Get in touch
If you would like to discuss how membership, data access, or both could support your work, we would be glad to arrange a call.