| Format/length: | n2 | 
| HES item: | EPIORDER | 
| National Codes: | |
| Default Codes: | 98 - Not applicable | 
| 99 - Not known: a validation error | 
Notes:
EPISODE NUMBER is the same as attribute ACTIVITY IDENTIFIER and is used to uniquely identify episodes, and is a sequence number for each Consultant Episode (Hospital Provider) in a Hospital Provider Spell. The first episode of each new Hospital Provider Spell (including re-admitted PATIENTS) commences at 01.
A known EPISODE NUMBER can be between 01 to 87.
For other Health Care Provider episodes, it is a sequence number for a CONSULTANT/PATIENT combination; or it is a sequence number for each Sexual Health And HIV Episode; or it is a sequence number for each Community Episode in a Nursing In The Community Programme.
This data element is also known by these names:
| Context | Alias | 
|---|---|
| plural | EPISODE NUMBERS | 
