The Health Statistics Users Group and the RSS Official Statistics Section are organising a webinar to discuss user perspectives on the Code of Practice.  This webinar is intended to follow on from the revision of the Code of Practice by OSR (Office for Statistics Regulation) - not within the consultation period, but as part of the implementation and Way Forward - looking at issues from the perspective of a user.
 
A report of the recent Code of Practice consultation has been published by OSR (Office for Statistics Regulation) (https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/consultation-on-the-code-of-practice-for-statistics-findings-and-next-steps/   This report summarises the findings and next steps. OSR is now moving ahead with the refresh of the Code and is aiming to release the third edition in autumn 2025.  Although the consultation has closed, OSR is open to receiving further feedback as they finalise the Code.
 
This webinar will therefore not look at the Code of Practice directly, but at some aspects of quality and accessibility that are relevant for users, and whether having the Code of Practice can help with these.  It will consider how users and producers can work together to ensure the Code of Practice delivers on its promises, and what are the challenges.
 
 Programme

1. Trade offs needed in pressured situations – Deniz Gursul – RSS (Royal Statistical Society)  
2.  A speaker from a local or combined authority to reflect on how users and producers can collaborate more effectively in the future to meet the aims of the Code of Practice.  Juliet Whitworth from LGA has been contacting possible speakers.  If noone is available to speak on the shortlisted dates, the webinar will go ahead without this presentation, but they will be invited to contribute comments to be included in the meeting report. 
3. Perspective of a user involved in research that draws on official statistics-  Rachel Plachcinski  (Independent consultant in parent, patient and public involvement in health research)
4. The experience in Scotland - issues in relation to PRA (Pre Release Access) which is currently being reviewed.  Speaker from ScotCen who are undertaking this review
5. Penny Babb OSR to speak on how the Code might help to meet the challenges that have been raised, and also comment on the planned way forward.

 
It is expected that each presentation will be 10 to 15 minutes, to allow time for a Q&A session at the end.  If there are 4 speakers the webinar will run from 12:00 to 13:30 (which is the usual timing for webinars in this series), but if 5 speakers are presenting then the time will be extended to run from 12:00 to 14:00.
 
The presentations, a meeting report and a recording of the webinar will be posted on the HSUG Community on AnalystX  / Future NHS, and also on the Health and Care group on StatsUserNetwork.  People who are not able to attend on the day will be able to view, and comment on, this material.
 

Contact George Papadopoulos for Health Statistics User Group and Official Statistics Section Group 

Members - free to attend

Non members - £10