The primary purpose of national data sets is to enable conformant health information to be generated across the country, independent of the ORGANISATION or system that maintains it. In achieving this, the Health and Social Care Information Centre will enable healthcare professionals to measure and compare the delivery and quality of care provided and to support them in sharing information with other health professionals and ORGANISATIONS.

1. A. Information Requirements

   Information on care provided for all PATIENTS by NHS Hospitals and Primary Care Trusts and Independent Sector Providers (for NHS PATIENTS only) is specified in the Commissioning Data Sets and must be submitted to the Secondary Uses Service according to issued guidelines.Information Requirements

   This data is required to:
   • monitor and manage Service Agreements;
   • develop commissioning plans;
   • support the Payment By Results processes;
   • support NHS Comparators;
   • develop commissioning plans;
   • monitor Health Improvement Programmes;
   • underpin clinical governance;
   • understand the health needs of the population.
   • monitor and manage Service Agreements;
   • develop commissioning plans;
   • support the Payment By Results processes;
   • support NHS Comparators;
   • monitor Health Improvement Programmes;
   • underpin clinical governance;
   • understand the health needs of the population.
   
   

   Information on care provided for all PATIENTS by NHS Hospitals and Primary Care Trusts and Independent Sector Providers (for NHS PATIENTS only) is specified in the Commissioning Data Sets and must be submitted to the Secondary Uses Service according to issued guidelines.

   Commissioners need access to data to monitor Non-Contract Activity as part of the management of their Service Agreements. Primary Care Trusts also need to monitor in-year referrals to investigate the sources and reasons for Non-Contract Activity.

   Independent Sector Treatment Centres (TC) are responsible for providing Admitted Patient Care and Out-Patient Attendance Commissioning Data Sets and may submit this data on their own behalf or via a third party. Other Independent Sector activity for NHS PATIENTS is the responsibility of the NHS commissioning body for the provision of the appropriate central returns and data sets.

   The Department of Health requires accurate data of all PATIENTS admitted to or treated as out-patients, or treated as an Accident And Emergency Attendance by NHS Hospital Providers and Primary Care Trusts, including PATIENTS receiving private treatment. The data also includes NHS PATIENTS treated electively in the independent sector and overseas. These Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are derived from the Admitted Patient Care, Out-Patient Attendance and Accident and Emergency Attendance Commissioning Data Sets as stored in the Secondary Uses Service. This data provides information about hospital and PATIENT management, epidemiological data on patient diagnoses and operative procedures. This data provides information about hospital and PATIENT management, epidemiological data on PATIENT DIAGNOSES and OPERATIVE PROCEDURES.

2. B. Data Flows

   The information data flows are shown in the Tables below.
3. 
   

4. C. Commissioning Data Set Data Flow Definitions

   Commissioning Data Set Data Flow Definitions

   CDS TYPES
   
   The Commissioning Data Set is the basic structure used for the submission of commissioning data to the Secondary Uses Service and is designed to be capable of individually conveying many different Commissioning Data Set structures encompassing Accident and Emergency Attendances, Out-Patient Attendances, Future Attendances, Admitted Patient Care and Elective Admission List data etc.

   Commissioning Data Set Messages have been defined in specific components known as a CDS TYPE. Each Commissioning Data Set Type as configured into the Commissioning Data Set Message carries only one specific Commissioning Data Set Type, an examples being the Finished Consultant Episode Commissioning Data Set Type etc.

GMP Practice Consultation is a CARE CONTACT.

A consultation by a CARE PROFESSIONAL to a PERSON for the provision of health care within a GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER practice.

The PATIENT should be offered a GMP Practice Consultation within 24 hours of a SERVICE REQUEST DATE and SERVICE REQUEST TIME if requesting to see a CARE PROFESSIONAL other than a GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER. The PATIENT should be offered a GMP Practice Consultation to see a GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER within 48 hours of requesting an appointment. The PATIENT should be offered a GMP Practice Consultation to see a GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER within 48 hours of requesting an APPOINTMENT.

Group Session is a SESSION.

A session held by at least one member of a health promotion staff group as part of a programme to improve the general awareness of a group of people about particular functions, conditions or aspects of behaviour affecting the health of the community.A SESSION held by at least one member of a health promotion staff group as part of a programme to improve the general awareness of a group of people about particular functions, conditions or aspects of behaviour affecting the health of the community.

Hospital Episode Statistics is a data warehouse containing details of all admissions to NHS hospitals in England. It includes private PATIENTS treated in NHS hospitals, PATIENTS who were resident outside of England and care delivered by treatment centres (including those in the independent sector) funded by the NHS. Hospital Episode Statistics also contain details of all NHS outpatient appointments in England.Hospital Episode Statistics is a data warehouse containing details of all admissions to NHS hospitals in England. It includes private PATIENTS treated in NHS hospitals, PATIENTS who were resident outside of England and care delivered by treatment centres (including those in the independent sector) funded by the NHS. Hospital Episode Statistics also contain details of all NHS Out-Patient Appointments in England.

Hospital Episode Statistics is the data source for a wide range of healthcare analysis for the NHS, Government and many other organisations and individuals. It contains admitted patient care data from 1989 onwards, with more than 12 million new records added each year, and outpatient attendance data from 2003 onwards, with more than 40 million new records added each year.Hospital Episode Statistics is the data source for a wide range of healthcare analysis for the NHS, Government and many other ORGANISATIONS and individuals. It contains admitted patient care data from 1989 onwards, with more than 15 million new records added each year, and outpatient attendance data from 2003 onwards, with more than 60 million new records added each year.

The Health and Social Care Information Centre is working in partnership with NHS Connecting for Health, which manages the National Programme for IT. This joint programme team is responsible for the development and implementation of the Secondary Uses Service which is used to collect data for input to the Hospital Episode Statistics process.

More information about the Hospital Episode Statistics Service can be found at the HESonline website.More information about Hospital Episode Statistics can be found at the HESonline website.

The purpose of the National Cancer Data Set is to advise organisations within the National Health Service on a transferable set of data.The purpose of the National Cancer Data Set is to advise ORGANISATIONS within the National Health Service on a transferable set of data. These data will meet the needs of clinical audit, assist in the generation of National Performance Indicators and will allow outcome assessment.

By clicking on the data element text within the data set opposite, the selected data element definition will be displayed.

Any text within the displayed definition which is in blue and uppercase is the name of a class, attribute or data element; business definitions appear in Title Case and all if clicked on will display the definition for that class, attribute, data element or business definition.

The National Direct Access Audiology Patient Tracking List Data Set collects performance information on a weekly basis, on the Referral To Treatment pathways of PATIENTS who are receiving NHS funded audiology treatment in England, who are not already included in the Referral to Treatment Summary Patient Tracking List Data Set. This includes:

• both analogue and digital hearing aid fittings
• services provided directly by NHS Healthcare Providers and also NHS funded PATIENTS treated via the Independent Sector and third sector providers (collected directly or via Primary Care Trusts)
• both new and existing PATIENTS
• any other PATIENTS attending Audiology services directly

For the purposes of the National Direct Access Audiology Patient Tracking List Data Set, "Direct Access" means PATIENTS who are not referred via Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) or other hospital CONSULTANT. Any pathways that are subject to the 18 weeks waiting time target for Referral to Treatment are out of scope. For this reason PATIENTS on Ear, Nose and Throat pathways (or pathways from other specialties) are excluded from this central return data set - information on these PATIENTS is available via the Referral To Treatment Summary Patient Tracking List Data Set data collection.

The National Direct Access Audiology Patient Tracking List Data Set is in two parts, as follows:

Parts 1A and 1B: Untreated Patients

Part 1A should be completed for PATIENTS who have not had an ACTIVITY which ends their REFERRAL TO TREATMENT PERIOD (such as first definitive treatment, or a decision not to treat)

AND

who do not have a future APPOINTMENT for an ACTIVITY with an anticipated REFERRAL TO TREATMENT PERIOD STATUS of 30 before the REFERRAL TO TREATMENT PERIOD EXCEEDS 18 WEEKS DATE.

Part 1B should be completed for PATIENTS who have not had an ACTIVITY which ends their REFERRAL TO TREATMENT PERIOD (such as first definitive treatment, or a decision not to treat)

AND

whose REFERRAL TO TREATMENT PERIOD EXCEEDS 18 WEEKS DATE has passed.

Part 2 should be completed for PATIENTS who have a REFERRAL TO TREATMENT PERIOD END DATE within the last 7 days

Full guidance on the completion and submission of the National Direct Access Audiology Patient Tracking List Data Set is available from the Department of Health website at: http://www.18weeks.nhs.uk/Content.aspx?path=/achieve-and-sustain/Diagnostics/Audiology/diagnostic-guidance/direct-accessFull guidance on the completion and submission of the National Direct Access Audiology Waiting Times Data Set is available from the Department of Health website.

The Department of Health document 'Improving Access to Audiology Services in England' can be found at the following link:
http://www.18weeks.nhs.uk/Content.aspx?path=/achieve-and-sustain/Diagnostics/Audiology/diagnostic-guidanceThe Department of Health document 'Improving Access to Audiology Service in England' can be found at the "Direct Access Audiology Waiting Times and PTL collections section" of the Department of Health website.

The National Direct Access Audiology Waiting Times Data Set collects performance information on a monthly basis on the Referral To Treatment pathways of PATIENTS who are receiving NHS funded audiology treatment in England, who are not already included in the Referral To Treatment Data Set data collection. This includes:

• both analogue and digital hearing aid fittings
• services provided directly by NHS Healthcare Providers and also NHS funded PATIENTS treated via the Independent Sector and third sector providers (collected directly or via Primary Care Trusts)
• both new and existing PATIENTS
• any other PATIENTS attending Audiology services directly

For the purposes of the National Direct Access Audiology Waiting Times Data Set, "Direct Access" means PATIENTS who are not referred via Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist or other hospital CONSULTANT. Any pathways that are subject to the 18 week waiting time target for Referral to Treatment are out of scope. For this reason PATIENTS on Ear, Nose and Throat pathways (or pathways from other specialties) are excluded from this central return data set - information on these PATIENTS is available via the Referral To Treatment Data Set data collection.

The National Direct Access Audiology Waiting Times Data Set is in two parts, as follows:

Part 1 - Treated Patients should be completed for PATIENTS who have had an ACTIVITY which ends their REFERRAL TO TREATMENT PERIOD (such as first definitive treatment, or a decision not to treat), within the REPORTING PERIOD.

Part 2 - Untreated Patients should be completed for PATIENTS without a REFERRAL TO TREATMENT PERIOD END DATE within the REPORTING PERIOD.

Full guidance on the completion and submission of the National Direct Access Audiology Waiting Times Data Set is available from the Department of Health website at: http://www.18weeks.nhs.uk/Content.aspx?path=/achieve-and-sustain/Diagnostics/Audiology/diagnostic-guidance/direct-access

The Department of Health document 'Improving Access to Audiology Services in England' can be found at the following link:Full guidance on the completion and submission of the National Direct Access Audiology Waiting Times Data Set is available from the Department of Health website.
http://www.18weeks.nhs.uk/Content.aspx?path=/achieve-and-sustain/Diagnostics/Audiology/diagnostic-guidance

The Department of Health document 'Improving Access to Audiology Service in England' can be found at the "Direct Access Audiology Waiting Times and PTL collections section" of the Department of Health website.

Release: December 2008

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP1022 (1 January 2009) - DSCN 29/2008 Data Standards: 18 Weeks Referral to Treatment (RTT) Time, Performance Sharing
• CP1022 (1 January 2009) - DSCN 29/2008 Data Standards: 18 Weeks Referral to Treatment (RTT) Time, Performance Sharing
• CP901 (Immediate) - DSCN 28/2008 Removal of references to EDIFACT and the NHS Wide Clearing Service (NWCS) 
• CP843 (1 April 2009) - DSCN 22/2008 Data Standards: National Radiotherapy Data Set
• CP1011 (1 January 2009) - DSCN 20/2008 Data Standards: National Cancer Waiting Times Minimum Data Set 

Release: November 2008

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP1026 (3 November 2008) - DSCN 21/2008 Information Standard: Mental Health Act 2007 Mental Category

Release: August 2008

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP1018 (Immediate) - DSCN 19/2008 Data Standards: Change of Name for National Administrative Code Services (NACS) to Organisation Data Service (ODS)
• CP956 (1 September 2008) - DSCN 18/2008 Central Return: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunisation Programme – Vaccine Monitoring Minimum Dataset
• CP861 (Immediate) - DSCN 16/2008 Central Return:  Hospital and Community Services Complaints and General Practice (including Dental) Complaints - KO41(a) and KO 41(b)
• CP964 (Immediate) - DSCN 14/2008 Central Return: 18 Weeks ‘Adjusted’ Referral to Treatment (RTT) Dataset
• CP965 (Immediate) - DSCN 13/2008 Data Standards: Organisation Data Service (ODS) - Change to the Default Codes Set to Support Changes to GMS Contract
• CP879 (Immediate) - DSCN 12/2008 Data Standards: Quarterly Monitoring: Cancelled Operations Data Set (QMCO)

Release: May 2008

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP502 (Immediate) - DSCN 10/2008 Data Standards: National Workforce Data Definitions (v2.0)
• CP910 (1 April 2008) - DSCN 08/2008 Data Standards: National Direct Access Audiology Patient Tracking List (PTL) and Waiting Times (WT) data sets
• CP900 (Immediate) - DSCN 07/2008 Data Standards: Inter-Provider Transfer Administrative Minimum Data Set
• CP934 (1 April 2008) - DSCN 06/2008 Data Standards: Mental Health Minimum Data Set (version 3.0)
• CP935 (Immediate) - DSCN 05/2008 Data Standards: 18 Weeks Rules Suite
• CP925 (1 September 2008) - DSCN 04/2008 Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Data Set Change to an Information Standard
• CP942 (1 June 2008) - DSCN 03/2008 General Practice and General Medical Practitioner (GMP) - changes resulting from the introduction of the General Medical Services (GMS) Contract

Release: February 2008

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP812 (Immediate) - DSCN 01/2008 Central Return: Diagnostics Waiting Times Census Data Set
• CP881 (31 December 2007) - DSCN 42/2007 Central Return: Referral To Treatment Summary Patient Tracking List
• CP904 (Immediate) - DSCN 41/2007 Data Standards: Admission Intended Procedure Update
• CP824 (1 February 2008) - DSCN 39/2007 Data Standards: 48 Hour Genitourinary Medicine Access Monthly Monitoring (GUMAMM)

Release: November 2007

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP919 (Immediate) - DSCN 38/2007 Data Standards: Mental Health Minimum Data Set Schema
• CP814 (1 April 2008) - DSCN 37/2007 Data Standards: Introduction of Mental Health Minimum Data Set version 2.1
• CP930 (31 December 2007) - DSCN 35/2007 Data Standards: A correction to the version 6 Commissioning Data Set schema
• CP834 (Immediate) - DSCN 34/2007 Data Standards: Referral Request Received Date
• CP875 (Immediate) - DSCN 33/2007 Data Standards: National Administrative Codes Service: Introduction of codes for the new Pan SHAs
• CP880 (Immediate) - DSCN 29/2007 Data Standards: Amendments to Doctor Index Number (DIN) Description

Release: August 2007

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP845 (Immediate) - DSCN 28/2007 Data Standards: Treatment Function Code (Referral to Treatment Period)
• CP831 (1 October 2007) - DSCN 27/2007 Data Standards: Update to Commissioning Data Set XML Schema v5
• CP825 (1 October 2007) - DSCN 16/2007 Data Standards: Source of Referral for Outpatients (18 Weeks)

Release: June 2007

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP799 (31 December 2007) - DSCN 18/2007 Data Standards: Introduction of Commissioning Data Set Version 6
• CP833 (Immediate) - DSCN 17/2007 Data Standards: Introduction of Commissioning Data Set validation table
• CP801 (Immediate) - DSCN 15/2007 Data Standards: Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly (COVER) Return

Release: May 2007

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP800 (31 December 2007) - DSCN 14/2007 Commissioning Data Set Schema Version 6-0
• CP856 (1 October 2007) - DSCN 13/2007 Data Standards: Discharge Ready Date
• CP869 (Immediate) - DSCN 12/2007 Data Standards: Update to Clinical Coding Introduction
• CP827 (1 October 2007) - DSCN 09/2007 Data Standards: Earliest Reasonable Offer Date
• CP817 (1 October 2007) - DSCN 08/2007 Data Standards: Introduction of Age into Commissioning Data Sets
• CP849 (May 2007) - DSCN 07/2007 National Administrative Codes Service: Introduction of new identification codes for Dental Consultants
• CP822 (Immediate) - DSCN 06/2007 Data Standards: Update to Organisation Codes
• CP850 (Immediate) - DSCN 05/2007 National Administrative Codes Service: Amendments to Default Codes
• CP786 (1 April 2007) - DSCN 04/2007 Quarterly Monitoring Accident and Emergency Services (QMAE) Central Return

Release: February 2007

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP811 (Immediate) - DSCN 03/2007 Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity
• CP826 (1 October 2007) - DSCN 02/2007 Extension of Treatment Function to Support the Measurement of 18 Week Referral to Treatment Periods
• CP813 (1 April 2007) - DSCN 01/2007 Paediatric Critical Care Minimum Data Set
• CP768 (1 January 2007) - DSCN 18/2006 Changes to the NHS Data Dictionary to support the measurement of 18 week referral to treatment periods
• CP798 (6 November 2006) - DSCN 19/2006 Commissioning Data Set (CDS) Version 5 XML Message Schema

Release: September 2006

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP795 (31 October 2006) - DSCN 22/2006 Organisation Codes / Organisation Site Codes
• CP792 (1 April 2007) - DSCN 15/2006 Neonatal Critical Care
• CP719 (1 April 2006) - DSCN 09/2006 Measuring and Recording of Waiting Times
• CP791 (1 April 2007) - DSCN 13/2006 Priority Type
• CP774 (1 September 2006) - DSCN 12/2006 Person Marital Status

Release: May 2006

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP764 (1 April 2006) - DSCN 08/2006 Diagnostics waiting times and activity
• Correction to menu structure to include Critical Care Minimum Data Set

Release: April 2006

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP608 (1 October 2006) - DSCN 07/2006 Introduction of Commissioning Data Set Version 5 and its associated XML schema into the NHS Data Dictionary.
• CP756 (1 September 2005) - DSCN 19/2005 PbR Commissioning for Out of Area Treatments (OATs) and Charge-Exempt Overseas Visitors
• CP724 (1 April 2006) - DSCN 13/2005 Critical Care Minimum Data Set
• CP754 (1 April 2006) - DSCN 17/2005 Treatment Function and Main Specialty Code Revisions
• CP763 (1 April 2006) - DSCN 20/2005 New Treatment Functions for therapy services and anticoagulant service
• CP767 (Immediate) - DSCN 02/2006 Referral Request Received Date
• CP690 (1 September 2005) - DSCN 16/2005 Marital Status

Release: August 2005

DSCNs Incorporated into the NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

• CP555 (1 April 2005) - DSCN 11/2005 Data Standards: COVER - Hepatitis B immunisation for babies
• CP715 (Immediate) - DSCN 10/2005 Data Standards: Treatment Function Codes - correction and clarification of names and descriptions
• CP706 (1 April 2005) - DSCN 09/2005 Data Standards: Cancer Registration Data Set
• CP691 (1 July 2005) - DSCN 06/2005 Data Standards: NSCAG Commissioner Code

NHS Data Model and Dictionary: Change Menu

Data Set Change Notice (DSCN) Website

The means by which a PATIENT arrived at an Accident And Emergency Department.

National Codes:

Attribute:

Notes:

A unique identifier for a Lithotripter or a Radiotherapy Machine .  Details of how this identifier is generated and used with the Radiotherapy Data Set  can be found at the CancerUK website at Radiotherapy Data Set Documentation.  Details of how this identifier is generated and used with the Radiotherapy Data Set  can be found at the Cancer UK website at Radiotherapy Data Set Documentation.

Home Leave is a LEAVE where LEAVE TYPE is National Code 02 'Home Leave'.