Epidemiological use of NHS activity data.

The primary purpose of the medical record is to support clinical care of patients by keeping an accurate record of their condition and of treatment given or planned; its second role is as a source of information for management; but its uses do not end there. Both the medical record itself, and information derived from it at one or more removes, are important tools in medical research, audit and evaluation of services. This paper describes the use of routine NHS activity data in general, and the medical record in particular, in epidemiology. As the author works at the Institute of Child Health, most of the examples cited involve children.