The 18 Weeks operational standard is set out in the Operating Framework for the NHS in England published by the Department of Health.

The 18 week referral to treatment pathway is about improving PATIENTS’ experience of the NHS - ensuring all PATIENTS receive high quality elective care without any unnecessary delay.

18 Weeks applies to pathways that do or might involve Consultant Led Activity, setting a maximum time of 18 weeks from the point of initial referral up to the start of any treatment necessary for all PATIENTS where it is clinically appropriate and where PATIENTS want it.

For further information on 18 Weeks, see:For further information on NHS waiting times, see the:

• the Department of Health "18 weeks referral to treatment statistics" website; 
• Department of Health Contact Us.
• NHS England website at Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times Rules and Guidance
• NHS Choices website at Guide to NHS waiting times.

Copyright

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Computer Viruses

Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information and data that is held on this web site is free from computer viruses or other contamination. However, it is recommended that content downloaded from this site, is additionally checked by your own anti-virus checking system prior to use.

The Health and Social Care Information Centre cannot accept liability for any damage, however caused to computer systems and/or data contained therein by any programs, including viruses, in content downloaded from any Health and Social Care Information Centre website.

Links

All links are provided for information and convenience only. We cannot accept responsibility for the sites linked to, or the information found there. A link does not imply an endorsement of a site; likewise, not linking to a particular site does not imply lack of endorsement.

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While we have taken every care to compile accurate information and to keep it up-to-date, we cannot guarantee its correctness and completeness. The information provided on this site does not constitute business, medical or other professional advice, and is subject to change. We do not accept responsibility for any loss, damage or expense resulting from the use of this information. If you believe that there are errors, or inaccuracies please contact information.standards@hscic.gov.uk.

Files Available

• Metadata files are used by the NHS to validate data. The files facilitate data consistency and quality. The files are:
  • Diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases (ICD))
  • OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures (OPCS-4)
  • NHS Postcode Directory
  • Frozen Postcode Directory
  • Country Pseudo Postcodes

This item has been retired from the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

The last live version of this item is available in the November 2013 release of the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

Access to this version can be obtained by emailing information.standards@hscic.gov.uk with "NHS Data Model and Dictionary - Archive Request" in the email subject line.

The purpose of the meta model is to cohesively support the development and maintenance of NHS data standards in a consistent and integrated manner, which also supports the business process within and across the NHS, and with other non-NHS ORGANISATIONS involved with the care of PATIENTS.

The meta data model will form the underpinning common structure which can be used by all future data sets related to PATIENTS and CARE ACTIVITY whether they be 'administrative', 'clinical', 'management' etc.

A full review of the NHS Data Model and Dictionary has been done in order to bring existing information into line with the Meta Data Model. This is to facilitate support of legacy data standards and alignment with the National Programme for IT (NPfIT). This will therefore enable both legacy data standards and new data standards to be supported during the implementation of and migration to NPfIT. There may be further pieces of work which follow to ensure consistency of the NHS Data Model and Dictionary with the National Programme and other evolving data standards.

Introduction

1. This guidance explains the circumstances under which Hospital Provider Spells should close and reopen as a result of a merger or demerger, in terms of NHS data standards. It specifies which codes should be used for those Hospital Provider Spells which must be closed and reopened,
   • for DISCHARGE DESTINATION etc, for the closing Hospital Provider Spell and
   • for SOURCE OF ADMISSION etc, for the new Hospital Provider Spell.

When Hospital Provider Spells Should be Closed and Reopened

2. A Hospital Provider Spell is provided by one ORGANISATION acting as a Health Care Provider. This means that the spell is linked to the ORGANISATION CODE of the provider. If the ORGANISATION CODE changes, the spell must end and another begin with the new ORGANISATION CODE. If the spell does end, the Consultant Episode (Hospital Provider) within the spell must also end.

   The following scenarios explain what this means in terms of NHS Trust mergers or demergers. Note that these assume that nothing changes other than the fact that the NHS Trusts merge or demerge, e.g. the CONSULTANT stays the same, etc.

Mergers

Demergers

The Codes Used when Hospital Provider Spells are Closed and Reopened

3. If Hospital Provider Spells are to be closed and reopened only as a result of NHS Trust Mergers or demergers, for most cases the codes below should be used.

The CLOSED Hospital Provider Spell

DISCHARGE DESTINATIONSDISCHARGE DESTINATION

This depends on the type of WARD the PATIENT is in, but will be either:

• 51     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for general PATIENTS or the younger physically disabled
• 52     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for maternity PATIENTS or neonates
• 53     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for PATIENTS who are mentally ill or have learning disabilities

51     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for general PATIENTS or the younger physically disabledDISCHARGE METHOD

• 1   PATIENT discharged on clinical advice or with clinical consent

The REOPENED Hospital Provider Spell

52     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for maternity PATIENTS or neonatesADMISSION METHOD

53     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for PATIENTS who are mentally ill or have learning disabilities

DISCHARGE METHOD

1     PATIENT discharged on clinical advice or with clinical consent

The REOPENED Hospital Provider Spell

ADMISSION METHOD

81     Transfer of any admitted PATIENT from other Hospital Provider other than in an emergency

Note that this ADMISSION METHOD is classed under "Other Admission".

• 81     Transfer of any admitted PATIENT from other Hospital Provider other than in an emergency

Note that this ADMISSION METHOD is classed under "Other Admission". It is not elective and the PATIENT does therefore not have an entry on an Elective Admission List.

SOURCE OF ADMISSION

Again, this depends on the type of WARD the PATIENT is in, but will be either:

• 51     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for general PATIENTS or the younger physically disabled or Accident and Emergency Department
• 52     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for maternity PATIENTS or neonates
• 53     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for PATIENTS who are mentally ill or have learning disabilities

51     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for general PATIENTS or the younger physically disabled or Accident and Emergency Department

52     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for maternity PATIENTS or neonates

53     NHS Hospital Provider - WARD for PATIENTS who are mentally ill or have learning disabilities

REFERRER CODE

This will be the referrer to the Hospital Provider Spell within which the PATIENT was receiving care before the merger, i.e. the "original" Hospital Provider Spell.

Guidance for Merging Organisations to support Sending of Commissioning Data Sets to the Secondary Uses Service

The Secondary Uses Service have published a document "SUS Guidance on Merging and Demerging Organisations" which provides information regarding issues that may affect the approach to submitting data to the Secondary Uses Service. The document is available in the section "How do I send data to SUS?" of the Guidance and other useful documents web page.The Secondary Uses Service have published information regarding issues that may affect the approach to submitting data to the Secondary Uses Service. The guidance is available in the section "How do I send data to SUS?" at: Guidance and other useful documents.

Responsible AgenciesThe Organisation Data Service is responsible for allocating codes to a wide range of ORGANISATIONS in England and Wales, including but not limited to:

The Organisation Data Service is responsible for allocating administrative codes to a wide range of ORGANISATIONS in England and Wales, including but not limited to:

• Care Trusts (CTs)
• Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)
• Independent Providers (IPs)
• NHS Trusts
• Pathology Laboratories
• Special Health Authorities (SpHAs).

Several other UK agencies are responsible for issuing or publishing codes (to NHS standards) for the following healthcare ORGANISATIONS and CARE PROFESSIONALS and for maintaining their details.

• NHS Prescription Services:
  • GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS in England, Wales, Isle of Man and Channel Islands
  • GP Practices in England, Isle of Man and Channel Islands
  • Pharmacy and appliance dispensers in England, Isle of Man and Channel Islands
• NHS Dental Services:
  • GENERAL DENTAL PRACTITIONERS in England, Wales and Isle of Man
  • General Dental Practices in England, Wales and Isle of Man
• NHS Wales Informatics Service (NWIS):
  • The Prescription Pricing Unit maintain GP Practice details by way of receiving notification from the Business Service Centre of a new GP Practice and then generating an internal code and passing on to the NHS Prescription Services for allocation of the W (Welsh) GP Practice
• NHS in Scotland:
  • All healthcare ORGANISATIONS and practitioners in Scotland
• Department of Health, Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS), Northern Ireland:
  • All healthcare ORGANISATIONS and practitioners in Northern Ireland
• Office for National Statistics (ONS):
  • Responsible for the formal definition of key health geographies in the UK, in terms of their component postcodes.

Administrative codes are used for:ORGANISATION CODES are used for the identification of:

• the identification of information returned to the Department of Health;
• the identification of the ORGANISATIONS involved in the electronic exchange of information within the NHS;
• the identification of the parties involved in the commissioning and administration of an episode of care.
• information returned to the Department of Health;
• the ORGANISATIONS involved in the electronic exchange of information within the NHS;
• the parties involved in the commissioning and administration of an episode of care.

Where a valid ORGANISATION CODE is required for a message but is not available or not known for some reason, an Organisation Data Service Default Code can be used to provide a substitute value: These codes are maintained by the Organisation Data Service.

The current coding standards were introduced in 1996 by the Organisation Codes Service (OCS), now the Organisation Data Service. Subsequent revisions to the structure and format of ORGANISATION CODES have given these codes a consistent and stable format. This both reflects the organisational changes in the NHS and protects the codes against future changes to the structure of the NHS.

These details are made available in the Organisation Data Service data set, issued quarterly to NHS users via the online distribution service, Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) and through the Organisation Data Service website.The ORGANISATION CODES are available in the Organisation Data Service data set, issued quarterly to NHS users via the online distribution service, Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) and through the Organisation Data Service website.

For contact details for ORGANISATIONS responsible for issuing or publishing codes, see the Organisation Data Service website.

For codes and format see:

ORGANISATION CODE
ORGANISATION DEPARTMENT CODE
ORGANISATION SITE CODE
CONSULTANT CODE
DOCTOR INDEX NUMBER
GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL REFERENCE NUMBER
GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER PPD CODE
GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL REGISTRATION NUMBER
GENERAL DENTAL PRACTITIONER CODE
PRIVATE CONTROLLED DRUG PRESCRIBER CODE

ORGANISATIONS such as the Health and Social Care Information Centre, General Medical Council etc which are included in the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.ORGANISATIONS which are included in the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

• Referenced Organisations:
  • American Joint Committee on Cancer
  • British Association for Paediatric Nephrology
  • British Psychological Society
  • British Renal Society
  • British Transplantation Society
  • Care Quality Commission
  • Community Health Partnership (Scotland)
  • Department for Education
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Department for Work and Pensions Overseas Healthcare Team
  • Department of Health 
  • European Renal Association (European Dialysis and Transplant Association)
  • Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)
  • GS1
  • Health and Social Care Information Centre
  • Health and Wellbeing Board
  • Health Education England
  • Health Research Authority
  • Healthwatch England
  • Information Standards Board for Health and Social Care
  • International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
  • International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation
  • International Society of Paediatric Oncology
  • Local Health Board (Wales)
  • Local Healthwatch
  • Monitor
  • National Cancer Intelligence Network
  • National Casemix Office
  • National Contact Point
  • National Commissioning Group
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
  • National Joint Registry
  • National Kidney Federation
  • National Specialised Commissioning Group
  • Neonatal Data Analysis Unit
  • NHS Business Services Authority
  • NHS England
  • NHS Dental Services
  • NHS Prescription Services
  • NHS Trust Development Authority
  • NHS Wales Informatics Service
  • Northern Ireland Local Commissioning Group
  • Office for National Statistics
  • Ofsted
  • Organisation Data Service
  • Public Health England
  • Royal College of General Practitioners
  • Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  • The Renal Association
  • The Royal Marsden
  • UK National Screening Committee
  • UK Renal Registry
  • UK Terminology Centre
  • Union for International Cancer Control
  • United Kingdom Association of Cancer Registries
  • World Health Organisation

Payment by Results (PbR) is managed by the Department of Health and provides a transparent, rules-based system for paying NHS funded care in England.

It rewards efficiency, supports PATIENT choice and diversity and encourages ACTIVITY for sustainable waiting time reductions.

Payment is linked to ACTIVITY and adjusted for casemix. Importantly, this system ensures a fair and consistent basis for hospital funding rather than being reliant principally on historic budgets and the negotiating skills of individual managers.

For further information on Payment by Results, see the:

• Department of Health wesbite at: Help and advice about Payment by Results
• Department for International Development part of the gov.uk website at: Payment by results
• Health and Social Care Information Centre website at: Introduction to Payment by Results.

NHS Policies, such as Payment by Results, 18 Weeks etc which are included in the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.This item has been retired from the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

This section will be extended over time to include more Policies.The last live version of this item is available in the November 2013 release of the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

Access to this version can be obtained by emailing information.standards@hscic.gov.uk with "NHS Data Model and Dictionary - Archive Request" in the email subject line.

• NHS Policies:
  • 18 Weeks
  • Payment by Results
  • Reference Costs

This item has been retired from the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

The last live version of this item is available in the November 2013 release of the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

Access to this version can be obtained by emailing information.standards@hscic.gov.uk with "NHS Data Model and Dictionary - Archive Request" in the email subject line.

Reference Costs are the average cost to the NHS of providing a defined service in a given financial year. NHS Health Care Providers are mandated to provide annual reference cost data (for a wider range of services) to the Department of Health. Reference Costs have been collected annually since 1998.This item has been retired from the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

There are many uses of reference cost data, for example, they are used to underpin the Payment by Results National Tariff, Programme Budgeting analysis and are also used by the NHS to performance manage and benchmark their services.The last live version of this item is available in the November 2013 release of the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

For further information on Reference Costs, see the Department of Health part of the gov.uk website.Access to this version can be obtained by emailing information.standards@hscic.gov.uk with "NHS Data Model and Dictionary - Archive Request" in the email subject line.

ORGANISATIONS which are referenced in the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

• NHS Business Definitions
• Organisations
• Regulatory Bodies
• 
  
• Referenced Organisations:
  • American Joint Committee on Cancer
  • British Association for Paediatric Nephrology
  • British Psychological Society
  • British Renal Society
  • British Transplantation Society
  • Care Quality Commission
  • Community Health Partnership (Scotland)
  • Department for Education
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Department for Work and Pensions Overseas Healthcare Team
  • Department of Health
  • European Renal Association
  • Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)
  • GS1
  • Health and Social Care Information Centre
  • Health and Wellbeing Board
  • Health Education England
  • Health Research Authority
  • Healthwatch England
  • Information Standards Board for Health and Social Care
  • International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
  • International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation
  • International Society of Paediatric Oncology
  • Local Health Board (Wales)
  • Local Healthwatch
  • Monitor
  • National Cancer Intelligence Network
  • National Casemix Office
  • National Contact Point
  • National Commissioning Group
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
  • National Joint Registry
  • National Kidney Federation
  • National Specialised Commissioning Group
  • Neonatal Data Analysis Unit
  • NHS Business Services Authority
  • NHS Dental Services
  • NHS England
  • NHS Prescription Services
  • NHS Trust Development Authority
  • NHS Wales Informatics Service
  • Northern Ireland Local Commissioning Group
  • Office for National Statistics
  • Ofsted
  • Organisation Data Service
  • Public Health England
  • Royal College of General Practitioners
  • Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  • The Renal Association
  • The Royal Marsden
  • UK National Screening Committee
  • UK Renal Registry
  • UK Terminology Centre
  • Union for International Cancer Control
  • United Kingdom Association of Cancer Registries
  • World Health Organisation

Regulatory Bodies which are included in the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

• NHS Business Definitions
• Organisations
• Referenced Organisations
• 
  
• Regulatory Bodies:
  • General Chiropractic Council
  • General Dental Council
  • General Medical Council
  • General Optical Council
  • General Osteopathic Council
  • General Pharmaceutical Council
  • Health and Care Professions Council
  • Nursing and Midwifery Council
  • Ophthalmic Qualifications Committee

• Coding and Classifications
• Administrative Codes
• Clinical Coding
• Main Specialty and Treatment Function Codes Table
• ODS Default Codes
• Organisations and NHS Policies
• Main Specialty and Treatment Function Codes
• Mental Health Act Table
• Organisation Information
• NHS Postcode Directory
• NHS Trust Mergers
• ODS Default Codes
• Organisation Codes
• Organisations
• NHS Policies
• NHS Data Model and Dictionary Information
• About Version 3
• Change Request Log
• Disclaimer
• Glossary of Terms
• Meta Model
• Metadata Files
• Contacts/ Links
• Contact Details
• Information Standards Notices (ISNs)
• Information Standards Notices
• NHS Data Model and Dictionary Service Website