Formally set up in April 2001, the Unit plays a key role within Family Practitioner Services (FPS) providing services to a wide customer base. The Unit includes staff seconded from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), highly-skilled staff from within FPS and placement students. The Unit has a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with HPSS Boards which is reviewed on an annual basis to reflect changing customer needs and what can be delivered within resources. The Unit aims to provide support, information and advice to both internal and external customers in relation to the provision of General Medical, Dental, Ophthalmic and Pharmaceutical services. The Unit also provides a range of services to the Counter Fraud Unit (CFU) including information management, systems development and statistical support.

For more information on demographics or statistical information for Northern Ireland visit the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency website at http://www.nisra.gov.uk

Information and Research Unit, Family Practitioner Services Directorate, Central Services Agency, 2 Franklin Street, Belfast, BT2 8DQ.

E-Mail: infounit@csa.n-i.nhs.uk

Tel: 028 9053 5589