Gaps in Scotland’s health and social care data hinder performance assessment
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 13th January 2026
Findings reinforce ALLIANCE concerns on declining performance, limited reporting and inequalities
The Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission have published a joint briefing highlighting gaps in national data on community health and social care, making it difficult to assess the impacts of health and social care integration.
The briefing notes that there remains a lack of consistent national data on demand, workload, quality of care and outcomes. This limits the ability to evaluate how effectively services are improving people’s quality of life. Analysis also indicates a long-term trend of declining performance and satisfaction amid rising demand, slow progress in shifting care toward community and preventative services, variable levels of choice and control for service users, and a gap between ambitions to address health inequalities and actual improvement. The report particularly highlights the ongoing lack of performance reporting by integration authorities and at a national level.
A new interactive tool has also been launched to enable Integration Authorities (IA) and Health and Social care Partnerships to compare local and national performance and provides data on the national integration indicators broken down by each IA.
The ALLIANCE welcomes both the briefing and the interactive tool, which provide valuable insights at IA level. At the same time, the report underscores the persistent challenges posed by limited and inconsistent data. These findings reinforce the ALLIANCE’s long standing concern about the lack of transparent national reporting and the need for robust data to support decision making and improvement,
The briefings recommendation also align closely with the ALLIANCE’s calls for an integrated health and social care record, improved data collection and disaggregated reporting to monitor outcomes and inequalities. While the interactive tool represents an important step forward, the ALLIANCE stresses that stronger, more comprehensive national data is essential to improve services and ensure people’s experiences and needs are central to health and social care planning
End of page.
You may also like:
#TryAToolTuesday raises awareness of free and trusted apps and resources that help people improve and manage their health and wellbeing.
Continue readingImproved voting accessibility for people with Visual Impairment
Continue readingReport calls on the UK Government to ensure Access to Work is fully accessible
Continue readingHelp shape the new guidelines
Continue readingHelp future technology become more accessible
Continue readingAn update on our ongoing engagement with BT
Continue readingFindings show a need for quicker diagnosis and improved referrals to self management support
Continue readingThis new resource from the Social Care Institute for Excellence brings together research, data, and practice evidence.
Continue readingThe Patient Information Forum has released a report that shares the findings of it's latest survey on health literacy and digital inclusion.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE has co-signed Samaritans Scotland's call for change.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE has produced a report for the Scottish Parliament's Cross-party Group on Deafness.
Continue readingJoin Tommy Whitelaw for a workshop reflecting on his experience for caring for his mum and the importance of asking 'What matters to you?'.
Continue readingIndependent Review of Scotland's Legislative Framework for Children's Care Survey now open
Continue readingRead the Scotland Reducing Gambling Harm programme's event report which explores what makes lived experience platforms successful.
Continue readingAn online library of stories exploring the question, ‘What matters to you?’
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE are seeking views on the Scottish Government's rights to breaks and timescales for support plans for unpaid carers consultation
Continue readingProfessionals and members of the public are being asked to take part.
Continue readingDigital Team are launching an Online Digital Learning Series, first event is on Tuesday 12th May 10.30-12noon.
Continue readingTake part in participant-led rail journey research
Continue readingThe committee wants greater involvement from lived experience to strengthen their work.
Continue readingLived experience and peer support driving mental health transformation in Scotland.
Continue readingThe new platform ‘MyCare.scot’ is being led by the Scottish Government and Public Services Delivery Scotland.
Continue readingRead more about financial support available for unpaid carers in Scotland.
Continue readingAs part of our 20 year anniversary, we celebrate the Scottish Sensory Hub, the important work they do, and why it matters.
Continue readingLucy Mulvagh, Director of Policy, Research and Impact, at the ALLIANCE is moving on after 10 years supporting the organisation.
Continue reading