PATIENT USUAL ADDRESS (UNSTRUCTURED) is the usual ADDRESS UNSTRUCTURED nominated by the PATIENT, where the ADDRESS ASSOCIATION TYPE is National Code 'Main Permanent Residence' or 'Other Permanent Residence'.

If PATIENTS usually resident elsewhere are staying in hotels, hostels or other residential establishments for a short period of time, they should be recorded as staying at their usual permanent place of residence. However if the PATIENTs stay is long term, for example if they are resident at a boarding school, the School ADDRESS must be recorded. University students may nominate either their home ADDRESS or the ADDRESS of their University ACCOMMODATION.

Where PATIENTS do not have the capacity to supply this information, because of mental illness, for example, then the PERSON responsible for the PATIENT such as a parent, guardian or other representative should nominate the PATIENT USUAL ADDRESS (UNSTRUCTURED).

PATIENTS not able to provide a current permanent ADDRESS should be asked for their most recent ADDRESS. If this cannot be established, record the ADDRESS as 'No fixed abode' or 'Address unknown'. These PATIENTS are regarded as resident in the local geographical district for commissioning purposes.

For the baby in a birth episode, the PATIENT USUAL ADDRESS (UNSTRUCTURED) should usually refer to the mother's usual permanent place of residence, unless different circumstances apply (for example the baby is to be taken into care after birth).

The PATIENT's name and ADDRESS should be withheld from any Commissioning Data Set record which contains a valid NHS NUMBER.

This data element is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
plural	PATIENT USUAL ADDRESSES (UNSTRUCTURED)