Contextual Overview

• The Department of Health requires summary details from NHS Health Care Providers on ambulance activity. The Ambulance Services Data Set (KA34) provides performance management measures of response times; these are also required by NHS Trusts for Ambulance Service internal monitoring and for defining service agreements.
• The information originally monitored 'Your guide to the NHS' targets and the standards introduced following a review of ambulance performance standards in 1996-97. The standards required that all Ambulance Services would be expected to reach 75% of immediately life-threatening calls within 8 minutes irrespective of location and that all incidents that require a fully equipped Ambulance vehicle (car or Ambulance) must have a vehicle, able to transport the PATIENT in a clinically safe manner (Emergency Ambulance), arrive within 19 minutes of the TRANSPORT REQUEST being made in 95% of cases.
• The information originally monitored 'Your guide to the NHS' targets and the standards introduced following a review of ambulance performance standards in 1996-97. The standards required that all Ambulance Services would be expected to reach 75% of immediately life-threatening calls within 8 minutes irrespective of location and that all incidents that require a fully equipped Ambulance vehicle (car or Ambulances) must have a vehicle, able to transport the PATIENT in a clinically safe manner (Emergency Ambulance), arrive within 19 minutes of the TRANSPORT REQUEST being made in 95% of cases.
• The information is required to inform strategic policy development, to provide data to the Care Quality Commission for performance and activity assessment, to ensure that Spending Review bids reflect changes to overall demand and to inform the development of Ambulance Service reference costs.
• Information based on the data set is published annually in the Health and Social Care Information Centre's Statistical Bulletin 'Ambulance services; England'.

Collection and Submission of the Ambulance Services Data Set (KA34)

• The Ambulance Services Data Set (KA34) is completed by NHS Trusts providing Ambulance Services.
• The Ambulance Services Data Set (KA34) relates to ACTIVITY taking place over a 12 month period, between 1 April of one year and 31 March of the following year. The return is made annually and submitted within one month of the end of the year to which it relates, online to the Health and Social Care Information Centre via the Omnibus Survey system.
• The Ambulance Services Data Set (KA34) relates to ACTIVITY taking place over a 12 month period, between 1 April of one year and 31 March of the following year. The return is made annually and submitted within one month of the end of the year to which it relates, online to the Health and Social Care Information Centre via the Omnibus Survey system.
• The Ambulance Services Data Set (KA34) requires the ORGANISATION CODE and ORGANISATION NAME of the NHS Ambulance Trust - the NHS Health Care Provider of the Ambulance Service.

Synopsis of the Ambulance Services Data Set (KA34)

Part 1 Additional Guidance

• EMERGENCY CALLS RESOLVED BY TELEPHONE TOTAL is not required for RESPONSE CATEGORY National Code A 'Category A: immediately life threatening - presenting conditions which require a fully equipped Emergency Ambulance to attend the incident'.

• EMERGENCY RESPONSE WITHIN 8 MINUTES TOTAL and EMERGENCY CALLS RESOLVED BY TELEPHONE TOTAL are not required for RESPONSE CATEGORY National Code B 'Category B: serious but not immediately life threatening'.

• EMERGENCY CALLS RESOLVED BY TELEPHONE TOTAL is not required for RESPONSE CATEGORY National Code 'Category A: immediately life threatening - presenting conditions which require a fully equipped Emergency Ambulance to attend the incident'.

• EMERGENCY RESPONSE WITHIN 8 MINUTES TOTAL and EMERGENCY CALLS RESOLVED BY TELEPHONE TOTAL are not required for RESPONSE CATEGORY National Code 'Category B: serious but not immediately life threatening'.

• EMERGENCY RESPONSE WITHIN 8 MINUTES TOTAL, EMERGENCY RESPONSE NO AMBULANCE REQUIRED TOTAL, EMERGENCY RESPONSE AMBULANCE ARRIVED TOTAL and EMERGENCY RESPONSE WITHIN 19 MINUTES TOTAL are not required for RESPONSE CATEGORY National Code C 'Category C: other emergency calls which are not immediately life threatening or serious'.
• EMERGENCY RESPONSE WITHIN 8 MINUTES TOTAL, EMERGENCY RESPONSE NO AMBULANCE REQUIRED TOTAL, EMERGENCY RESPONSE AMBULANCE ARRIVED TOTAL and EMERGENCY RESPONSE WITHIN 19 MINUTES TOTAL are not required for RESPONSE CATEGORY National Code 'Category C: other emergency calls which are not immediately life threatening or serious'.

Only the first Emergency Ambulance to arrive at the scene of the TRANSPORT REQUEST INCIDENT should be included in lines 05 and 06 where more than one Emergency Ambulance has been despatched.

Timing of Emergency Response Times

In order to calculate the response time, the 'clock starts' at the TRANSPORT REQUEST CALL CONNECT TIME and the 'clock stops' on the TRANSPORT REQUEST FIRST RESPONSE ARRIVAL TIME or the AMBULANCE ARRIVAL TIME at the scene of the TRANSPORT REQUEST INCIDENT.

An Emergency Response within 8 minutes means 8 minutes 0 seconds (i.e. 480 seconds) or less. Similarly, 19 minutes means 19 minutes 0 seconds or less.

Cross-border Transport Requests

A TRANSPORT REQUEST/TRANSPORT REQUEST INCIDENT that crosses more than one Ambulance Service's boundary should be reported by only one Ambulance Service.

Each NHS Ambulance Service is responsible for reporting on the performance of all Emergency Transport Requests for which it receives the initial TRANSPORT REQUEST. This includes TRANSPORT REQUESTS received by an Ambulance Service that relate to TRANSPORT REQUEST INCIDENTS occurring outside its recognised boundary and TRANSPORT REQUESTS relating to TRANSPORT REQUEST INCIDENTS within or outside its boundary that are subsequently transferred to another Ambulance Service for response.

An Ambulance Service should not report, or report on the performance relating to, any TRANSPORT REQUEST INCIDENT where another Ambulance Service received the initial TRANSPORT REQUEST, even if the TRANSPORT REQUEST was transferred to and dealt with by that Ambulance Service. NHS Trusts responsible for dealing with any cross-border TRANSPORT REQUESTS should advise the NHS Trusts who received the initial TRANSPORT REQUEST of all appropriate clock times for performance reporting purposes.

Where an NHS Ambulance Service asks another NHS Ambulance Service to undertake a TRANSPORT REQUEST on its behalf, the responsibility for dealing with the TRANSPORT REQUEST in the most appropriate way passes to the receiving Ambulance Service once it has accepted it.

Air Ambulances

Air Ambulances are managed locally by Ambulance Services and financed through charitable funding. Any PATIENT TRANSPORT JOURNEY provided by air Ambulance should, therefore, not be included in the Ambulance Services Data Set (KA34).

The Immunisation Programmes Activity Data Set (KC50) requires summary information from Primary Care Trusts about the delivery of Immunisation Programmes for the following VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES:

• Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (Td/IPV)
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), and
• Tuberculosis (BCG).

The responsible population for the Primary Care Trusts with respect to the delivery of these Immunisation Programmes includes:

• PERSONS registered with a GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER whose GP Practice is under the responsibility of the Primary Care Trust, regardless of where the child is resident, and
• any PERSONS not registered with a GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER, who are resident within the Primary Care Trust GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

This does not include PERSONS who are resident within the Primary Care Trust GEOGRAPHIC AREA but registered with a GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER whose GP Practice is under the responsibility of a different Primary Care Trust.

Reporting

The Immunisation Programmes Activity Data Set (KC50) is reported for each financial year (i.e. between 1st April and 31st March), and must be received no later than the last working day of April. Reporting is via the Omnibus survey collection tool provided by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. Reporting is via the Omnibus Survey collection tool provided by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

For further information, see the Health and Social Care Information Centre website.For further information on the Immunisation Programmes Activity Data Set (KC50), see the Health and Social Care Information Centre website.

Immunisation Age Group
The IMMUNISATION AGE GROUP reported should reflect the age in year of the PERSON IN PROGRAMME within the REPORTING PERIOD. For example, the IMMUNISATION AGE GROUP of National Code '14 Age 13 years' is used to report Immunisation Programme activity performed on a PERSON who becomes 13 years of age during the REPORTING PERIOD.

Further guidance with respect to the application of IMMUNISATION AGE GROUPS is provided by the Health and Social Care Information Centre and can be found on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website.

Part A (i): IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME ACTIVITY FOR DIPHTHERIA, TETANUS AND POLIO (Td/IPV)

This group reports Immunisation Programme activity for the offer and delivery of vaccinations for immunisation against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio.

It is mandatory to report the ELIGIBLE POPULATION TOTAL (DIPHTHERIA TETANUS AND POLIO) and IMMUNISATION DOSES GIVEN TOTAL (DIPHTHERIA TETANUS AND POLIO) for each IMMUNISATION AGE GROUP (DIPHTHERIA TETANUS AND POLIO).

Where the Primary Care Trust does not offer vaccination for immunisation against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio for a specific IMMUNISATION AGE GROUP (DIPHTHERIA TETANUS AND POLIO), the ELIGIBLE POPULATION TOTAL (DIPHTHERIA TETANUS AND POLIO) for that IMMUNISATION AGE GROUP (DIPHTHERIA TETANUS AND POLIO) is reported as zero.

Part A (ii): IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME ACTIVITY FOR MEASLES, MUMPS AND RUBELLA (MMR).

This group reports Immunisation Programme activity for the offer and delivery of vaccinations for immunisation against Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR).

It is mandatory to report the ELIGIBLE POPULATION TOTAL (MEASLES MUMPS AND RUBELLA) and IMMUNISATION COURSES COMPLETED TOTAL (MEASLES MUMPS AND RUBELLA) for each IMMUNISATION AGE GROUP (MEASLES MUMPS AND RUBELLA).

Where the Primary Care Trust does not offer vaccination for immunisation against Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) for a specific IMMUNISATION AGE GROUP (MEASLES MUMPS AND RUBELLA), the ELIGIBLE POPULATION TOTAL (MEASLES MUMPS AND RUBELLA) for that IMMUNISATION AGE GROUP (MEASLES MUMPS AND RUBELLA) is reported as zero.

Part B (i): IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME ACTIVITY - MANTOUX TESTS FOR TUBERCULOSIS (BCG).

This group reports the delivery of Mantoux Tests.

It is mandatory to report the MANTOUX TESTS PERFORMED TOTAL (TUBERCULOSIS) for each IMMUNISATION AGE GROUP (TUBERCULOSIS).

Part B (ii): IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME ACTIVITY FOR TUBERCULOSIS (BCG).

This group reports Immunisation Programme activity for the delivery of vaccinations for immunisation against Tuberculosis (BCG).

It is mandatory to report the ELIGIBLE POPULATION TOTAL (TUBERCULOSIS) and IMMUNISATION DOSES GIVEN TOTAL (TUBERCULOSIS) for each IMMUNISATION AGE GROUP (TUBERCULOSIS).

Part C (i): IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME ACTIVITY FOR TUBERCULOSIS (BCG) FOR PERSONS AGED UNDER 1 YEAR.

This group reports Immunisation Programme activity for the offer and delivery of vaccinations for immunisation against Tuberculosis (BCG), for PERSONS aged under 1 year.

It is mandatory to report the ELIGIBLE POPULATION TOTAL (TUBERCULOSIS) for each of the following IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME TYPES (TUBERCULOSIS):

National Codes:

2	Planned programme for infants aged under 1 year, vaccinated routinely
3	Planned programme for infants aged under 1 year, in selective high-risk group

It is mandatory to report the IMMUNISATION DOSES GIVEN TOTAL (TUBERCULOSIS) for each of the following IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME TYPES (TUBERCULOSIS):

National Codes:

2	Planned programme for infants aged under 1 year, vaccinated routinely
3	Planned programme for infants aged under 1 year, in selective high-risk group
4	Other programme

Part C (ii) SUMMARISED IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME ACTIVITY FOR TUBERCULOSIS (BCG) FOR PERSONS AGED UNDER 1 YEAR.
This mandatory group reports the IMMUNISATION DOSES GIVEN TOTAL (TUBERCULOSIS - PERSONS UNDER 1 YEAR) to all PERSONS aged under 1 year.

The Department of Health introduced the policy document 'The National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care' in 2007 to establish a consistent and standardised guide to implementing the delivery of continuing care.

Continuing care is care provided over an extended period of time, to a PERSON aged 18 or over, to meet physical or mental health needs that have arisen as a result of disability, accident or illness.

Further clarification can be found at the Department of Health part of the gov.uk website at: National framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS funded nursing care. 

In order to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the Framework, the Department of Health has introduced a mandatory collection which requires quarterly figures to report the eligibility for and provision of NHS CONTINUING HEALTHCARE during the REPORTING PERIOD.

The NHS Continuing Healthcare Quarterly Central Return Data Set should be submitted centrally via the Omnibus Survey system maintained by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.The NHS Continuing Healthcare Quarterly Central Return Data Set is submitted centrally via the Omnibus Survey system maintained by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Further information can be found on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website.Further information on the NHS Continuing Healthcare Quarterly Central Return Data Set can be found on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website.

The collection includes:

• PERSONS aged 18 or over, receiving 100% NHS CONTINUING HEALTHCARE and recognised as eligible to receive NHS CONTINUING HEALTHCARE due to a primary health need under the guidelines of National framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS funded nursing care. 
• PERSONS still recognised as eligible under the former Strategic Health Authorities eligibility criteria. This also includes PERSONS retrospectively identified as having a primary health need under the guidelines of the National Framework, that is for periods of care from October 1st 2007 onwards.
• A PERSON covered by Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983, as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007, who is receiving or is recognised as eligible to receive NHS CONTINUING HEALTHCARE for a primary health need that is not related to their mental health condition. Note: PERSONS covered by Sections 2, 3, 17 or 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983, as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007 are excluded.

The collection excludes:

• PERSONS identified retrospectively as having a primary health need for any period of care prior to October 1st 2007.
• PERSONS receiving either 100% or part NHS funding for NHS CONTINUING HEALTHCARE through other NHS funding streams.
• PERSONS receiving temporary 100% NHS funding for NHS CONTINUING HEALTHCARE , pending completion of a decision of eligibility to receive NHS CONTINUING HEALTHCARE.

The Department of Health introduced the policy document 'The National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care' in 2007 to establish a consistent and standardised guide to implementing the delivery of continuing care.

Continuing care is care provided over an extended period of time, to a PERSON aged 18 or over, to meet physical or mental health needs that have arisen as a result of disability, accident or illness.

Further clarification can be found at the Department of Health part of the gov.uk website at:

• National framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS funded nursing care and
• NHS-funded Nursing Care Practice Guide.

In order to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the Framework, the Department of Health has introduced a mandatory collection which requires an annual figure to report the provision of NHS FUNDED NURSING CARE, at the end of the REPORTING PERIOD.

The NHS Funded Nursing Care Annual Central Return Data Set should be submitted centrally via the Omnibus system maintained by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.The NHS Funded Nursing Care Annual Central Return Data Set is submitted centrally via the Omnibus Survey system maintained by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Further information can be found on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website.Further information on the NHS Funded Nursing Care Annual Central Return Data Set can be found on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website.

Omnibus Survey is a web-based data collection tool which the NHS, social care and other ORGANISATIONS use to submit data to the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

For further information on Omnibus Survey, see the Health and Social Care Information Centre website at What is Omnibus Survey?.

This supporting information is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
shortname	Omnibus