New Data Quality Strategy to strengthen NHS Scotland’s climate action ambitions

The new strategy sets out a clear, coordinated national approach to improving sustainability data quality across Scotland’s health system. It focuses on making data more consistent, accessible and useful, while strengthening collaboration, shared priorities and skills to support better reporting, decision-making and climate action.

At its core, the strategy recognises that high-quality data is fundamental to delivering a sustainable, efficient and high-performing NHS Scotland.

By strengthening how data is collected, shared and interpreted, it will improve confidence in sustainability reporting, enable clearer tracking of progress and support better decisions about how services are designed, resources are used and environmental impacts are reduced. This is critical to underpinning the complex, system-wide delivery of NHS Scotland’s climate ambitions.

Steven Flockhart, Director of Digital and Security at Public Services Delivery Scotland

Enabling consistency to strengthen data intelligence

Sustainability data is critical for statutory reporting and tracking progress towards net zero. However, variation across health boards limits consistency and weakens national insight. This strategy establishes a framework to address these challenges by streamlining data collection, enabling users to capture the right data efficiently while supporting effective local delivery.

Delivered through a phased programme, it will build the data foundations required to support more informed decision-making and continuous improvement. By improving the use of data across key areas - from estates and travel to procurement and service planning - it will ensure NHS Scotland has consistent, high-quality information to support a greener, more sustainable future.

Strategic alignment

The new strategy aligns with wider NHS Scotland and Scottish Government data strategies helping to create more connected systems so data can be shared and used more effectively.