A Data Element is the definition of the information which is usually transmitted in a Data Set.

In addition, Data Elements can contain text providing guidance, support, values or other information concerning the Data Element and its usage.

Each Data Element:

• Name is in UPPERCASE and where the name appears in text in GREEN, it indicates that it is a hyperlink and if clicked on will display the definition for that Data Element.

The following information is available on an Data Element:

• "Description":
  • A definition of the Data Element which provides hyperlinks to other related definitions
  • Provides guidance or other information concerning the Data Element and its usage
  • The table at the foot of the page shows if there is an alias for this Data Element, e.g. schema name etc.
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• Format/Length:
  • The format and length of the Data Element.
  • The character set used for Data Elements is the UTF-8 standard (Unicode Transformation Format-8).
  • The number indicates the field length of the Data Element.
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• National Codes:
  • The National Codes for the Data Element
  • If there are no agreed National Codes, there will be no National Codes section.
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• Default Codes:
  • An entry in this field indicates that in addition to the agreed National Codes for the Data Element, there are default codes applicable to that Data Element only
  • If there are no Default Codes for the Data Element, there will be no Default Codes section.

• "Where Used": every item where the Data Element is used within the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.
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• "Attribute": the Attribute the Data Element is based on.
  • Data Elements are linked to Attributes so they can share the common Attribute definition. For example, NHS NUMBER, NHS NUMBER (BABY) and NHS NUMBER (MOTHER) are based on the one Attribute of NHS NUMBER.
  • Some Data Elements are derived from other items, for example, AGE ON ADMISSION is a derived item and is not linked to an Attribute.

What would you like to do next?

•  NHS Data Model and Dictionary Content

View Data Elements in the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.