The GIRFT data pack is a benchmarking product containing hospital values compared with national and/ or organisation-level comparators. It collates data from many different sources into a single product. The purpose of the data packs is to support the ‘deep dive’ meeting, where a GIRFT clinical lead discusses clinical quality with clinicians and managers from the hospital at which the deep dive meeting is taking place. The data pack is not published and is only shared with the trust to whom the data relates, and where the trust has given its consent to share their data pack with NHS England and Improvement regional and national teams to support service improvement.

Deep dive observation notes are the documents produced following deep dive meetings. These will contain recommended actions and notable good practice. Trusts will usually receive these within two weeks of their deep dive meeting. These notes will then be uploaded to the FutureNHS platform along with a video recording of the meeting to support the notes.

GIRFT Clinical Improvement and Implementation Plans reflect the variations highlighted in trust data packs; the improvement priorities discussed in the deep dive meetings; and recommendations set out in each national report. The overall focus of the implementation plans is on delivering sustainable solutions which are then transitioned to becoming ‘business as usual’ deliverables for the trust and, where appropriate, also for the NHS as a whole through embedding change at national policy level.

GIRFT questionnaires are designed to capture trusts responses in areas that can be used to support NHS England and NHS Improvement duties under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to protect and promote the interests of people who use health care services by promoting provision of health care services which are, inter alia, economic, efficient and effective. The questionnaires also help to gain information and data from trusts where specific data is not available from other sources.