The priority of a SERVICE REQUEST.

In the case of SERVICES to be provided by a CONSULTANT, it is as assessed by or on behalf of the CONSULTANT.

• PRIORITY TYPE National Code 'Urgent' should be used where the SERVICE REQUEST is defined as clinically urgent, but it does not fall under the criteria for 'Two Week Wait' (see below).
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• PRIORITY TYPE National Code 'Two Week Wait' should be used where either:

  • the SERVICE REQUEST meets the criteria for an urgent referral for suspected cancer.
    These referrals should be made in accordance with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines on referral for suspected cancer.
    For further information, see the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence website at: Suspected cancer: recognition and referral.
    or
  • the PATIENT has been referred urgently for breast symptoms, but the referral does not meet the criteria for urgent referrals for suspected cancer.

Note: Changes to cancer waiting times standards from 1 October 2023 were announced by NHS England at: Changes to cancer waiting times standards from 1 October 2023. Until changes to the PRIORITY TYPE data item are made to support this change, National Code ‘Two Week Wait’ should continue to be used by Health Care Providers, to record the PRIORITY TYPE for REFERRAL REQUESTS which fall under the new Faster Diagnosis provisions.

National Codes:

This attribute is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
plural	PRIORITY TYPES