Insights for All: Driving Organisational Data Literacy at James Paget NHS Trust

Data in the NHS

Data is the backbone of modern healthcare. In the National Health Service (NHS), where resources are stretched and demands are high, effective use of data is crucial for improving patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and strategic decision-making.

From reducing patient wait times to forecasting resource needs during winter pressures, accurate and accessible data enables healthcare providers to deliver quality care while optimising budgets.

Data at James Paget NHS Trust

James Paget NHS Trust places a strong emphasis on the effective use of data to support high-quality patient care and operational excellence. The Trust exemplifies the power of prioritising data literacy and by investing in data apprenticeships, company-wide data training, and embracing new technologies, the Trust demonstrates how targeted training can unlock the full potential of data to meet organisational goals.

Central to its efforts is the Information Services department, a team of 20 professionals responsible for managing and analysing the Trust’s data. This team is tasked with producing national data returns, creating real-time dashboards, and maintaining rigorous data quality standards across the organisation. Their work ensures that decision-making is informed by reliable, actionable insights, supporting both clinical and administrative functions.

The Trust’s approach to data management extends beyond the Information Services department, aiming to create a culture of data literacy and awareness throughout the organisation. Staff members, regardless of their roles, go through mandatory Information Governance Training to equip them with the knowledge and tools to understand and engage with data both effectively and responsibly. This company-wide training ensures all staff are familiar with data security protocols and compliance requirements, such as those outlined in GDPR. These training sessions are an integral part of the onboarding process and are refreshed annually, reinforcing the importance of data security and governance in everyday operations.

In addition to compliance training, the Trust invests in targeted, team-led sessions that focus on department-specific dashboards and analytics. These sessions empower teams to access and use relevant company data for everyday evidence-based decision-making. For example, clinical teams learn to interpret visualised data to identify trends and predict patient outcomes, while administrative staff are trained to use analytics to optimise resource allocation and improve operational efficiency. This training ensures that data-driven practices are unified and embedded across all levels of the organisation.

Challenges

As a whole, the NHS faces challenges in harnessing its data capabilities; limited digitisation, diverse systems across Trusts, and the need to upskill staff are ongoing hurdles. James Paget NHS Trust has made significant strides, but challenges remain. One of the primary challenges is the financial constraints that hinder the adoption of advanced technologies. The Trust, like many within the NHS, must balance a tight budget, prioritising immediate clinical needs over long-term investments in digital infrastructure.

Recruitment and retention of skilled data professionals is another challenge. The public sector often struggles to attract and retain talent, as many data specialists are drawn to private organisations offering more competitive salaries, which can lead to frustrations and higher turnover rates, making it a challenge to build and sustain a robust data workforce.

Finally, data governance and privacy add layers of complexity to the Trust’s efforts. With evolving regulations like GDPR and increased public scrutiny around data use, the Trust must navigate these challenges carefully. To combat this, upskilling the existing workforce is crucial but presents its own set of challenges. Many staff members lack the technical skills needed to maximise the potential of data-driven tools and processes. Clinical and administrative employees may struggle to find the time for training while managing their primary responsibilities and scaling training across the organisation requires significant resources.

Data Apprenticeships

James Paget NHS Trust has embraced data apprenticeships as a strategic solution to build capacity within its Information Services team and address ongoing skill shortages. Data apprenticeships play a critical role in equipping individuals with both technical expertise and soft skills, ensuring they can contribute effectively to the Trust’s objectives.

Currently, the Trust benefits from the contributions of five data apprentices, each working collaboratively within a centralised team while being assigned to specific organisational projects under different managers. This structure allows the apprentices to develop a broad understanding of the Trust’s operations while specialising in their own area, but in addition to their individual responsibilities, the apprentices work together to tackle ad hoc data requests from across the organisation.

“The apprenticeship has definitely brought fresh skills and perspectives into the team. Jack, our apprentice, brought practical Power BI and SQL skills from his Baltic training – skills that weren’t as developed in the existing team.

He’s also introduced improved data practices around validation and documentation, and he regularly shares DAX tips and shortcuts that are subtly upskilling those he works alongside.”

 – Alan Davies, Lead Analyst (Surgical Division)

The team uses tools like SQL and Power BI to visualise and analyse data, creating dashboards and reports that provide actionable insights for decision-makers. They also run support and teaching sessions to enhance data literacy across the organisation, empowering staff to interpret and utilise these insights effectively; the team ensures clinical and administrative staff have critical information at their fingertips. This streamlined access to data enables the Trust to maintain operational efficiency while focusing on delivering exceptional patient care.

The Impact

The data apprentices at James Paget NHS Trust have delivered measurable benefits across the organisation, demonstrating the value of tailored training programmes.

Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity

By automating routine processes, such as task management and reporting, they have reduced manual workloads and freed up time for the team to focus on high-value activities.

“One apprentice now owns our weekly SUS reporting data pull. It used to take Senior Analysts up to 4 hours per week. Now that time is saved, allowing our senior staff to focus on complex analysis.”

 – Alan Davies, Lead Analyst (Surgical Division)

Another apprentice helped organise a SharePoint-based planner to track incoming data requests, ensuring all recurrent tasks were assigned and allocated correctly. Her ability to organise and enforce best practices has improved team efficiency and provided a clear structure for managing workloads.

Improved Trust-wide Decision-Making

With the apprentices’ expertise in tools like SQL and Power BI, the Trust has seen improvements in the accessibility and usability of its data. By developing dashboards and automating reporting processes, apprentices have enabled clinical and administrative staff to access the data they need independently.

“The team can handle more ad-hoc data requests now, which means operational teams get answers faster. Our apprentices have also supported our data migration project – particularly around data cleansing and validation, which was a huge help.”

 – Alan Davies, Lead Analyst (Surgical Division)

Clinical teams can now access real-time data on patient outcomes and resource usage, while administrative teams use analytics to optimise appointment scheduling and equipment allocation. This improved access to data has strengthened decision-making across the Trust; reducing the workload on the data team and empowering departments to make data-driven decisions.

Upskilling and Workforce Development

The programmes have also been instrumental in addressing skill gaps within the Trust. Apprentices have not only developed technical expertise but have also honed essential soft skills, such as collaboration, problem-solving, and adaptability.

“We’ve seen increased team output without increasing headcount. Beyond immediate support, these apprentices are our pipeline – familiar with our data and systems, reducing our future recruitment costs.”

 – Alan Davies, Lead Analyst (Surgical Division)

By equipping its existing staff with advanced skills, the Trust has ensured a steady pipeline of qualified data professionals capable of stepping into more senior roles when they arise.

Return on Investment

It can be difficult to measure financial return on investment within a public sector organisation like the NHS, where success is often defined in terms of efficiency, service quality, and patient outcomes rather than profit.

However, James Paget has already seen clear benefits from its investment in data apprenticeships, with one of the most immediate impacts being time saving. One apprentice, Jack, has taken ownership of routine reporting tasks such as the weekly SUS data pull, saving an estimated three to four hours of Senior Analyst time per week, equating to approximately £375 – £500 per month. This one small switch has allowed more experienced staff to focus on complex analysis and development projects, increasing the team’s overall efficiency.

Additionally, productivity has also improved, with the department now processing a greater volume of data requests and developing more tools without expanding its headcount. The introduction of dashboards like the International Recruitment tool has further supported better decision-making by providing real-time, actionable insights to managers and clinical teams.

Final Thoughts

By building capacity within the Information Services department and embedding data-driven practices across the organisation, the Trust’s Data apprentices have delivered tangible operational improvements while laying the foundations for future innovation.

Investing in apprenticeships has allowed the Trust to develop a sustainable data talent pipeline and address immediate skill shortages, all while remaining within the constraints of tight public sector budgets. These programmes are not just an investment in individuals – they are an investment in the future of healthcare data management, ensuring that Trusts are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare.