Data Collection

Since SSNAP (clinical) started in January 2013 more than 500,000 stroke patient records have been analysed and reported on. Over 90% of expected stroke cases are being entered to SSNAP by providers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with case ascertainment in Northern Ireland now steadily improving. This means that the data presented in SSNAP Reports are complete and robust. 

Developing a Core Dataset 

A core, minimum dataset was developed by the Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party (ICSWP) in collaboration with key stakeholders. Prospective data were collected via a secure web-based tool provided by Net Solving Ltd. Security and confidentiality are maintained through the use of passwords and a person specific registration process.  The data items collected by SSNAP include acute care processes and interventions, assessments and rehabilitation, and longer term care provision. The core dataset is available to download here.

Standardising data interpretation

Detailed help notes are provided to ensure standard interpretation of the dataset questions across all participants. Extensive support in the form of FAQ’s, user guides and videos are available online via Zendesk software (see support icon on bottom right of SSNAP website).

Eligibility Criteria

Patients: All patients with a primary diagnosis of stroke coded as I-61, I-63, I-64 should be submitted to SSNAP. The minimum age for patient submission to SSNAP is 16.
Stroke services: Any stroke service in England, Wales or Northern Ireland which treats at least 10 patients per year are eligible to participate in SSNAP. All acute hospitals in these countries that provide stroke care are actively submitting data to SSNAP with increasing numbers of post-acute care providers registering and participating in SSNAP.

Data collection timeline

SSNAP is a prospective, continuous audit. This means that data collection is ongoing until at least 31 March 2023 when the current contract for running the national stroke audit ends. 

Data collection deadlines

SSNAP imposes deadlines for the submission of data over specific time periods to enable these data to be analysed and reported on. SSNAP reports across quarterly, six monthly and annual (April-March) periods. Upon data entry deadline dates all patient data for the previous period is required to be submitted and locked by participating teams. If records are locked this means that they have been clinically signed off and are therefore ready for analysis. The data locking deadlines for the upcoming reporting periods are provided in the table below.

Inpatient teams

Reporting period	Data entry deadline	Results available to teams	Results publically available*
April-June 2022	1 August 2022	September 2022	October 2022
July-September 2022	7 November 2022	December 2022	January 2023
October-December 2022	6 February 2023	March 2023	April 2023
January-March 2023	2 May 2023	May 2023	July 2023

*Subject to appropriate sign-off from funders
 
Non-inpatient teams

Reporting period	Data entry deadline	Results available to teams	Results publically available
January-June 2022	1 August 2022	September 2022	October 2022
July-December 2022	6 February 2023	March 2023	April 2023

Ambulance trusts

Reporting period	Data entry deadline	Data published by NHS England on
October 2022	22 February 2023	9 March 2023
November 2022	22 March 2023	TBA
December 2022	24 April 223	TBA
January 2023	22 May 2023	TBA
February 2023	22 June 2023	TBA
March 2023	24 July 2023	TBA
April 2023	22 August 2023	TBA
May 2023	22 September 2023	TBA
June 2023	23 October 2023	TBA
July 2023	22 November 2023	TBA
August 2023	13 December 2023	TBA

April 2022 - September 2022 ambulance data revision period data locking deadline: 22 February 2023