What we do
The NHS Benchmarking Network helps NHS organisations understand how services compare with others and where there are opportunities for improvement.
We work with trusts and system partners across the NHS to collect, curate and analyse data on services, staffing, costs and outcomes, turning it into clear insights through practical analytics and visual tools. Alongside this, we create opportunities for shared learning and collaboration, helping organisations learn from each other and make informed decisions that improve care for patients.
The NHS Benchmarking Network is a member-led organisation.
We take a collaborative approach to benchmarking, bringing together expertise from across organisations and systems to drive improvements in quality, efficiency and outcomes.
We offer membership at an organisational level.
Organisational membership means that once an organisation joins, all staff can access our resources, discussion forums and events. Health and care organisations across the UK can become members, and our community includes NHS providers, independent providers, national bodies and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).
Alongside membership, we deliver a broad range of services.
From extensive National Clinical Audits, to specific analytic tools to help address a specific area. We are a trusted source for high-quality data curation, analysis, and visualisation, to enable evidence-based decision-making.
How we came to be
Idea for the Network
The idea for the NHS Benchmarking Network was first conceived in the mid-1990s by Dick Stockford, then Director of Strategy for Trent Regional Health Authority. At the time, it was clear that the NHS faced challenges in sharing information on performance and best practice, understanding variation across services, and accessing the data needed to support decision-making. Initial discussions between the Department of Health, Regional Health Authorities, Health Authorities and Chief Executive Forums explored the potential for creating a protected, collaborative environment where organisations could come together to define what good practice looked like and learn from each other.
The NHS Benchmarking Club
These early meetings, held at Regent’s College in London in 1995 and 1996, led to the decision to establish a membership organisation — initially called the NHS Benchmarking Club — with governance arrangements, a steering group of Health Authority leaders, and support from key individuals including Edward Colgan, Charles Harris, Jane Rennie, Lindsay Ashley and Mohit Venkataram. The NHS Benchmarking Club was formally established in 1996, with membership open to Health Authorities and similar organisations across the UK. Seed funding came from the Department of Health, the NHS Management Executive and the Audit Commission, and a work programme was developed with regular plenary meetings to share insights and collaborate.
The NHS Benchmarking Network
Over time, as the scope of work grew and new ways of supporting benchmarking emerged, the organisation evolved to reflect this broader role. On 1 January 2008, the NHS Benchmarking Club became the NHS Benchmarking Network, maintaining its commitment to independence, integrity, and providing a trusted, collaborative space for health and care organisations to compare, learn and improve.
2026 marks our 30th anniversary
Take a look at our 30 year timeline to see how we have grown our reach and impact on the NHS.
Find out more
What we do
Find out more about our data collection process and how we validate and visualise our findings.
Member Programme
Find out more about our member programme and the many different data collections we conduct.
Joining the Network
Find out more about how to join our network of members and what being a member could mean for you.