Appropriate use of data
It is critical the data published on this page are used responsibly and presented accurately. Before using the data, read all the information in the below FAQs and in each file, including conditions of use and other important guidance on the metadata tab.
Frequently asked questions
What is ‘Downloadable data’?
BHI makes a wide range of healthcare performance data available to the public in accessible formats, in line with the NSW Government’s Open Data Policy.
BHI’s ‘Downloadable data’ refers to the spreadsheets we have now made available on this page which include the detailed data that feeds into the BHI Data Portal. This allows you to carry out your own detailed custom analysis and presentation of the data.
Which datasets are available as Downloadable data?
Downloadable data files are now available for:
-
Healthcare Quarterly, our quarterly series of reports on activity and performance in NSW public hospitals
- the Adult Admitted Patient Survey, one of the two core surveys in the NSW Patient Survey Program.
BHI will continue to expand access to Downloadable datasets in future, including the Emergency Department Patient Survey.
For researchers interested in accessing unit record patient survey data, see more on the Data access and research page about what is already available.
In which formats is Downloadable data available?
Downloadable data is available in Excel (Healthcare Quarterly) and CSV (patient survey) formats.
The data have been structured to allow use with specialised software such as Excel, R, Python or similar tools and for easy ingestion into database and data visualisation tools.
How can I ensure I use the data responsibly?
Each Downloadable data file includes a metadata tab with guidance on how to appropriately use the data.
Refer to BHI’s technical supplements for reporting methodology, available on each report page.
These data should be used in ways that comply with the NSW Government’s guidance on responsible use of open data.
What measures are taken to ensure patient privacy?
BHI is committed to protecting patient privacy. All publicly available datasets are de-identified and aggregated to prevent the identification of individuals, in accordance with government legislation.
For Healthcare Quarterly, further information is available in the technical supplement on the report page.
For the NSW Patient Survey Program, see our Privacy statement.
How do I cite BHI when I use the data?
Bureau of Health Information. [Dataset title], [Time period]. Sydney (NSW); BHI: [Year of download]
Example citations:
Bureau of Health Information. Healthcare Quarterly, Elective surgery data, 2010–2025. Sydney (NSW); BHI: 2025
Bureau of Health Information. NSW Patient Survey Program, Adult Admitted Patient Survey, 2021–2025. Sydney (NSW); BHI: 2026
Who can I contact if I need help or have feedback?
Email us at: BHI-Enq@health.nsw.gov.au
Please let us know if you make use of these data. Your feedback helps us understand how the data supports improvements to healthcare.
Additional resources
Data requests
Where publicly available data on the BHI website does not meet your requirements, you can make a data access request by completing the data request form.
For researchers
BHI has a dedicated initiative which makes unit record patient survey data available to researchers in a secure environment. For more information, see the Data access and research page.
Digital data resources
Hospital performance page – See an overview of local hospital and district performance before exploring more detailed results in the Data Portal.
BHI Data Portal – Find and compare detailed results showing activity and performance for the NSW healthcare system, including trends over time.