The Place-Based Longitudinal Data Resource (PLDR) brings together datasets that track changes in the determinants of health and health outcomes, in places over time. These are used by researchers, local government, the NHS and the third sector to understand what works to improve public and health, what doesn’t and what can cause harm.

The PLDR uses local and national datasets (e.g Hospital admissions data, budgetary data, prescribing data) to calculate indicators for places (neighbourhoods, local government areas, regions and countries) that are consistent over time. It also includes data from the North West Coast Household Panel Survey that was commissioned by the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care, North West Coast (CLAHRC NWC). This survey was carried out in 2015 and 2018 in selected neighbourhoods in the North West.

The PLDR is designed to provide data that supports analysis of the health effects of area-based determinants and interventions. In particular, where new policies or interventions have been implemented a particular area a rapid natural experiment can be set up matching intervention areas to non-intervention areas selected from across England. For example, these approaches are being used to evaluate a community based cardiovascular service, a housing improvement intervention, a new GP quality improvement scheme and the CLAHRC NWC Neighbourhood Resilience Programme.

To find out more about the PLDR, and search the datasets, click here.