Worked example: AI-assisted analysis of NHS Oversight Framework data

OF0005 — Percentage of patients waiting over 52 weeks for community services Potential strength

Plain-English meaning

Percentage of patients waiting over 52 weeks for community services.

RDY value and peer median

RDY value 0 vs peer median 0.19 (published rank 1)

Agent flag

Potential strength

Initial interpretation

This is a long-wait metric where lower values are generally preferable. RDY value 0 vs peer median 0.19 (published rank 1). RDY reports 0.00% compared with a peer median of 0.19%. The agent would note this as a potential strength relative to peers, but the denominator, local waiting-list definition and data quality must be checked before any operational use.

Human check required

Confirm cohort, denominator, reporting period (Mar-26) and whether local community waiting lists align with the national definition.

OF0079 — Planned surplus/deficit Definition check required

Plain-English meaning

Planned surplus/deficit for the financial year.

RDY value and peer median

RDY value 2.39 vs peer median 0 (published rank 1)

Agent flag

Definition check required

Initial interpretation

This finance metric relates to the Trust’s planned financial position. RDY value 2.39 vs peer median 0 (published rank 1). Positive and negative values have specific meanings in NHS finance reporting — the agent does not assume surplus/deficit interpretation without the official metric definition. Flag for finance-owner confirmation.

Human check required

Finance team to confirm sign convention, plan version (2025/26 plan) and whether this matches internal board reporting.

OF0081 — Variance year-to-date to financial plan Definition check required

Plain-English meaning

Variance year-to-date to financial plan.

RDY value and peer median

RDY value 1.08 vs peer median 0.49 (published rank 5)

Agent flag

Definition check required

Initial interpretation

This shows how far year-to-date performance varies from the approved plan. RDY value 1.08 vs peer median 0.49 (published rank 5). The agent does not treat a higher or lower variance as automatically favourable without checking NHS England’s metric definition and local finance narrative.

Human check required

Finance owner to confirm Month 12 2025/26 YTD basis, plan assumptions and whether amendments have been published.

OF0082 — Sickness absence rate Review locally

Plain-English meaning

Sickness absence rate across the workforce.

RDY value and peer median

RDY value 5.47 vs peer median 6.22 (published rank 13)

Agent flag

Review locally

Initial interpretation

Workforce sickness absence — lower values are usually preferable. RDY value 5.47 vs peer median 6.22 (published rank 13). RDY is below the peer median (5.47 vs 6.22), which may indicate relatively lower absence, but reporting period (Q3 2025/26) and local workforce context should be confirmed.

Human check required

Workforce/HR lead to confirm reporting period, inclusion rules and whether local sickness dashboards use the same definition.

OF0041 — Annual change in the number of children and young people accessing NHS-funded MH services Watch / clarify

Plain-English meaning

Annual change in the number of children and young people accessing NHS-funded mental health services.

RDY value and peer median

RDY value 13.37 vs peer median 8.76 (published rank 17)

Agent flag

Watch / clarify

Initial interpretation

This measures year-on-year change in CYP mental health access (Apr 25–Mar 26 vs prior year). RDY value 13.37 vs peer median 8.76 (published rank 17). A higher figure may indicate growth in access relative to peers, but the agent would not treat this as demand or performance without confirming cohort, comparison year and service configuration.

Human check required

CYP mental health lead to confirm numerator, ICB/resident vs provider scope and whether local access data supports the direction of change.

OF0061 — NHS Staff survey - raising concerns sub-score Review locally

Plain-English meaning

NHS Staff Survey sub-score on raising concerns.

RDY value and peer median

RDY value 6.85 vs peer median 6.66 (published rank 17)

Agent flag

Review locally

Initial interpretation

Staff survey theme — higher scores usually indicate more positive staff experience on this theme. RDY value 6.85 vs peer median 6.66 (published rank 17). RDY is slightly above the peer median. The agent would not treat small differences as meaningful without checking survey methodology and response rates.

Human check required

Workforce/OD lead to confirm 2025 Staff Survey methodology, response rate and whether local culture survey data aligns.

OF0084 — NHS staff survey engagement theme sub-score  Review locally

Plain-English meaning

NHS Staff Survey engagement theme sub-score.

RDY value and peer median

RDY value 7.11 vs peer median 7.02 (published rank 20)

Agent flag

Review locally

Initial interpretation

Staff engagement theme from the NHS Staff Survey — higher is usually preferable. RDY value 7.11 vs peer median 7.02 (published rank 20). RDY is marginally above the peer median. The agent would flag for local review rather than over-interpreting a small gap.

Human check required

Confirm 2025 survey cohort, theme definition and whether the difference is material in local workforce planning.

OF0057 — Urgent Community Response 2-hour performance Review locally

Plain-English meaning

Urgent Community Response 2-hour performance.

RDY value and peer median

RDY value 79.28 vs peer median 87.18 (published rank 30)

Agent flag

Review locally

Initial interpretation

Proportion of urgent community response contacts meeting the 2-hour standard — higher is generally preferable for access performance. RDY value 79.28 vs peer median 87.18 (published rank 30). RDY is below the peer median (79.28 vs 87.18). The agent would flag this for local review and ask whether the latest local UCR position, referral volumes and service model explain the gap — not assume a single cause.

Human check required

Community urgent care/service owner to confirm UCR definition, Q4 2025/26 reporting period and local operational position.

OF0016 — Percentage of patients in mental health crisis to receive face-to-face contact within 24 hours Review locally

Plain-English meaning

Percentage of patients in mental health crisis receiving face-to-face contact within 24 hours.

RDY value and peer median

RDY value 65.54 vs peer median 71.97 (published rank 33)

Agent flag

Review locally

Initial interpretation

Mental health crisis access metric — higher is generally preferable. RDY value 65.54 vs peer median 71.97 (published rank 33). RDY is below the peer median (65.54 vs 71.97). The agent would flag this as an access and patient-safety themed metric needing local narrative and definition check.

Human check required

Crisis pathway owner to confirm crisis cohort, face-to-face definition, Q4 2025/26 period and alignment with local crisis standards.

OF0086 — Relative difference in costs Review locally

Plain-English meaning

Relative difference in costs (National Cost Collection Index, adjusted for Market Forces Factor).

RDY value and peer median

RDY value 106.96 vs peer median 104.85 (published rank 36)

Agent flag

Review locally

Initial interpretation

Relative difference in costs compares provider actual cost with expected cost. A value of 100 is approximately expected cost; values above 100 indicate costs above expected; values below 100 indicate costs below expected. NHS England describes lower as better for this metric. RDY value 106.96 vs peer median 104.85 (published rank 36). RDY’s published value is above both 100 and the peer median, so the agent would flag this for finance/productivity review rather than treating it as a definitive conclusion about efficiency or overspend.

Human check required

Finance/productivity owner to confirm 2024/25 cost index basis, MFF adjustment, peer group and local cost improvement narrative.

OF0063 — Percentage of inpatients with >60 day length of stay Review locally

Plain-English meaning

Percentage of adult mental health inpatients with length of stay over 60 days.

RDY value and peer median

RDY value 46.55 vs peer median 24.52 (published rank 47)

Agent flag

Review locally

Initial interpretation

Long-stay inpatient metric — lower values are generally preferable. RDY value 46.55 vs peer median 24.52 (published rank 47). RDY’s value (46.55) is substantially above the peer median (24.52). Because lower appears better for long-stay metrics, the agent would flag this for local review. A human reviewer would need to confirm the cohort, denominator, reporting period and whether the public figure aligns with local inpatient reporting.

Human check required

Acute/inpatient mental health lead to confirm >60-day definition, Q4 2025/26 cohort and local bed management data.