The Organisation Data Service is provided by NHS Connecting for Health. It is responsible for the publication of all ORGANISATION and practitioner codes and for the national policy and standards with regard to the majority of ORGANISATION CODES. These code standards form part of the NHS data standards. NHS Connecting for Health is also responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Organisation Data Service and for its overall development. It is supported by a number of agencies throughout the UK; for instance, the NHS Prescription Services and the NHS Dental Services.

The Organisation Data Service is also responsible for the ongoing maintenance of and practitioner information on to the ORGANISATION and PERSON nodes of the Spine Directory Service, the central repository of data for use within the various systems and services maintained and provided by NHS Connecting for Health.

The products the Organisation Data Service maintain includes:

• the authoritative national lists for a wide range of NHS ORGANISATIONS and medical practitioners of interest to the NHS;
• the allocation of the NHS standard identification codes for these ORGANISATIONS and practitioners;
• a change history record for these ORGANISATIONS and certain of these practitioners;
• additional reference data about each of the ORGANISATIONS and practitioners;
• details of the relationships between these ORGANISATIONS and practitioners;
• details of the GEOGRAPHIC AREAS covered by some of these ORGANISATIONS, defined in terms of POSTCODES;
• all ORGANISATION and Health CARE PROFESSIONAL codes on the Spine Directory Service.

The Organisation Data Service distributes:

• Organisation Codes Data:

a set of files mostly in standard formats, holding national reference data of ORGANISATIONS , practitioners and POSTCODES for use in NHS administrative functions: especially in processing central returns, PATIENT administration, commissioning and message handling. These are published on the NHSnet on a monthly basis (http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/). They are also made available to named recipients both inside the NHS and to others licensed to use this data in support of the NHS, through the online Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD). A subset of the data is also published on the NHS Choices website.A set of files mostly in standard formats, holding national reference data of ORGANISATIONS, practitioners and POSTCODES for use in NHS administrative functions: especially in processing central returns, PATIENT administration, commissioning and message handling. These are published:

• on the NHSnet at: http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/
• to named recipients both inside the NHS and to others licensed to use this data in support of the NHS, through the online Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD)
• as a subset of the data on the NHS Choices website.

• The ODS Access Database:

a Microsoft Access database containing frequently used data and a number of pre-defined enquiries.A Microsoft Access database containing frequently used data and a number of pre-defined enquiries. The database is available for download from the NHSnet and from Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) and is updated monthly.

• The ODS Newsletter:

a document distributed with each quarterly data issue through both the NHSnet pages and the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD), describing developments and issues related to the Organisation Data Service.A document distributed with each quarterly data issue through both the NHSnet pages and the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD), describing developments and issues related to the Organisation Data Service.

• The NHS Safe Haven Directory:

a directory distributed with each monthly data issue through both the NHSnet pages and the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD), that lists all the Safe Haven contacts and addresses set up to receive and hold confidential PATIENT data in the NHS, updated monthly.A directory distributed with each monthly data issue through both the NHSnet pages and the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD), that lists all the Safe Haven contacts and addresses set up to receive and hold confidential PATIENT data in the NHS, updated monthly.

• Postcode and related data supplied by the Office for National statistics:

the Office for National Statistics  supplies files containing all POSTCODES in the UK with details of their GEOGRAPHIC AREA information, such as map reference, Local Authority and Strategic Health Authority.The Office for National Statistics supplies files containing all POSTCODES in the UK with details of their GEOGRAPHIC AREA information, such as map reference, Local Authority and Strategic Health Authority. The Organisation Data Service makes these files available on a quarterly basis from the NHSnet and Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD).

The Organisation Data Service provides:

• Central allocation of new or revised codes;
• Help, advice and query resolution on the content and use of the national reference data;
• Development of the NHS standards in this area;
• Further development of the range of national reference data.

• NHS Data Model and Dictionary:

  NHS Data Model and Dictionary Service
  NHS Connecting for Health
  Princes Exchange
  Princes Square
  Leeds
  LS1 4HY

  Email: datastandards@nhs.net

  NHS Data Model and Dictionary Service Website:
  http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/data/datamodeldictionary
• 
  
• Information Standards Board for Health and Social Care:

  Information Standards Board for Health and Social Care
  Princes Exchange 
  Princes Square
  Leeds
  LS1 4HY

Website: http://www.isb.nhs.uk/

Email: isb@nhs.net

• Department of Health

Website:  Department of Health website

Queries:  Contact Us Details

Email: dhmail@dh.gsi.gov.uk

The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Website: The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care website

Queries:  Contact Us Details

Email: enquiries@ic.nhs.uk

• Hospital Episode Statistics (HES):

Website: HES online

Queries: HES queries

• Clinical Coding general enquiries:

  International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
  OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures (OPCS-4);
  Read Coded Clinical Terms;
  Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT®)

  For all general enquiries, contact:

  NHS Connecting for Health
  Data Standards and Products Help Desk

E-mail: datastandards@nhs.net

Website: http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/data/clinicalcoding/

• Organisation Data Service Queries:

Organisation Data Service
Hexagon House
Pynes Hill
Rydon Lane
Exeter
Devon EX2 5SE

Email: exeter.helpdesk@nhs.net

Telephone: 01392 251 289

Organisation Data Service website pages:

Organisation Data Service information can be accessed on the following websites:

• NHSnet pages where data is published: http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/
• Public domain pages: http://www.nhs.uk/ods/
• Information pages on the NHS Connecting for Health website:
  http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/data/standards/ods/index_html
• Information pages on the NHS Connecting for Health website: http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/data/ods
• Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) website for data downloads.

Information on the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) can be found at the TRUD website.

• Postcodes:

Office for National Statistics

Telephone: 0845 601 3034

Fax: 01633 652747

Email: info@statistics.gov.uk

Website: http://www.ons.gov.uk/about

National Health Service Postcode Directory (NHSPD) Website: http://www.ons.gov.uk/about

A code which identifies an ORGANISATION uniquely.

For NHS ORGANISATIONS it is a code that is managed by either the:

• Organisation Data Service (ODS)
• NHS Prescription Services
• NHS Dental Services

to identify most ORGANISATIONS that exchange information within the NHS or return information to the Centre. Examples of ORGANISATIONS that can be identified this way are Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities.

ORGANISATION CODING FRAMES

Notes:

• Organisation Data Service codes can be downloaded:
  • from the Organisation Data Service website for NHS staff only and
  • via files issued on the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) website
• Organisation Data Service contact details, can be found at Contact Details.

ORGANISATION CODING FRAMES

• All NHS ORGANISATIONS are coded using coding frames, as shown in the tables below:

NHS Organisations:

A Frame:

Example
Independent Provider e.g. 8HA03

• 8 = Organisation Type Identifier
• Remainder of code identifies organisation

Also:

B Frame:

Example
Local Service Provider e.g. LSP01

• LSP = Organisation Type Identifier
• 01 = Organisation Identifier

Also:

C Frame:

Example
School e.g. EE134290

• EE = Organisation Type Identifier
• Remainder of code identifies organisation

D Frame:

Example
Strategic Health Authority e.g. Q30

• Q = Organisation Type Identifier
• 30 = Organisation Identifier

Also:

E Frame:

Example
Government Office Region (GOR) e.g. K

• K = Organisation Identifier

F Frame:

Example
Pharmacy HQ e.g. P001

• P = Organisation Type Identifier
• 001 = Organisation Identifier

Also:

G Frame:

Example
GP Practice e.g. Y00001

• Y = Organisation Type Identifier
• 00001 = Practice Identifier

Also:

H Frame:

Example
Cancer Network e.g. N01

• N0 (where the 2nd character is numeric and not alpha) = Organisation Type Identifier
• 1 = Organisation Identifier

Also:

I Frame:

Example
Special Health Authority (SpHA) e.g. T1150

• T1 = Organisation Type Identifier
• 150 = Organisation Identifier

J Frame:

Example
Transplant Consortium e.g. Y01T1

• Y01T = Organisation Type Identifier
• 1 = Organisation Identifier

K Frame:

Example
NHS Wales Informatics Service e.g. W00

• W00 = Organisation Identifier

L Frame:

Example
Local Commissioning Group (Northern Ireland) e.g. ZC010

• Characters 1-3 (ZC0) AND character 5 (0) = Organisation Type Identifier
• Character 4 identifies organisation

Note: this is a 5 character method of displaying Local Commissioning Group (Northern Ireland) identifiers.
Characters 3 and 5 are ‘fillers’. If a 3 character code is required (as used by the Office for National Statistics in the NHS Postcode Directory) zeros can be omitted, e.g. ZC1.
The 3 character method of displaying the Local Commissioning Group (Northern Ireland) identifiers fit under the H Frame.
Guidance on the use of Northern Ireland codes can be found in Data Set Change Notice 19/2009.

The structure and format of ORGANISATION CODES maintained by the Organisation Data Service, NHS Prescription Services, NHS Dental Services and other agencies are detailed in the tables below.

ORGANISATION CODES TABLES

Table 1: CODING FORMATS FOR ORGANISATIONS IN ENGLAND AND WALES

ORGANISATION CODES for England and Wales which are published by the Organisation Data Service can be found on their website at:
http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads.ORGANISATION CODES for England and Wales are published by the Organisation Data Service and can be found:

• on their website at: http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads for NHS staff only and
• via files issued on the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) website.

Note 1: Codes for Executive Agency, Executive Agency Programme, Executive Agency Site and Executive Agency Programme Department do not easily fit into the coding frames as shown above and are therefore not included. This is due to their unusual structure in that there are more hierarchical 'tiers' than with other organisations.

Executive Agency and Executive Agency Programme are both considered Organisation level entities, although each Programme does have a relationship to an Executive Agency. Executive Agency codes are three characters long. Executive Agency Programme codes are six, and their first three characters are the same as the Executive Agency they are associated to.

Department codes of eight characters long can then be allocated underneath a Programme code (sharing the first six characters). Executive Agency Site codes of five characters long can be allocated under an Executive Agency code (and share the first three characters).

Note 2: The Pan SHAs are made up of confederations of SHAs and as such, are Health Areas, not organisations. However, it has been recognised that these health areas do require codes in order that NHS systems continue to function.

Table 2: CODING FORMATS FOR ORGANISATIONS IN SCOTLAND

Scottish ORGANISATION CODES are supplied by the Information Standards Directorate from NHS Scotland and published by the Organisation Data Service on their website at:
http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads/scotdown/.Scottish ORGANISATION CODES are supplied by the Information Standards Directorate from NHS Scotland and published by the Organisation Data Service:

• on their website at: http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads/scotdown/ for NHS staff only and
• via files issued on the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) website.

Table 3: CODING FORMATS for ORGANISATIONS in OTHER HOME COUNTRIES

ORGANISATION CODES for Isle of Man Government Departments, Directorates and Sites which are published by the Organisation Data Service can be found on their website at:
http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads/iomdown.ORGANISATION CODES for Isle of Man Government Departments, Directorates and Sites are published by the Organisation Data Service and can be found:

• on their website at: http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads/iomdown for NHS staff only and
• via files issued on the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) website.

Note: A-9 indicates that characters A-Z and 0-9 are valid: except B, I, O, S, U and Z (to avoid ambiguity).

A code which identifies an ORGANISATION DEPARTMENT uniquely.

For NHS ORGANISATIONS it is a code that is managed by either the:

• Organisation Data Service (ODS)
• NHS Prescription Services

ORGANISATION DEPARTMENT CODING FRAMES

Notes:

• Organisation Data Service codes can be downloaded:
  • from the Organisation Data Service website for NHS staff only and
  • via files issued on the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) website
• Organisation Data Service contact details, can be found at Contact Details.

ORGANISATION DEPARTMENT CODING FRAMES

• All NHS ORGANISATION DEPARTMENTS are coded using coding frames, as shown in the tables below:

A Frame:

Example
Pathology Laboratory e.g. 69010

• 6 = Department Type Identifier
• 9010 = Department Identifier

The structure and format of ORGANISATION DEPARTMENT CODES maintained by the Organisation Data Service, NHS Prescription Services and other agencies are detailed in the table below.

ORGANISATION CODES TABLES

Table 1: CODING FORMATS FOR ORGANISATION DEPARTMENTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES

ORGANISATION DEPARTMENT CODES for England and Wales which are published by the Organisation Data Service can be found on their website at:
http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads.ORGANISATION DEPARTMENT CODES for England and Wales are published by the Organisation Data Service and can be found:

• on their website at: http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads for NHS staff only and
• via files issued on the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) website.

Note: Codes for Executive Agency, Executive Agency Programme, Executive Agency Site and Executive Agency Programme Department do not easily fit into the coding frames as shown above and are therefore not included. This is due to their unusual structure in that there are more hierarchical 'tiers' than with other organisations.

Executive Agency and Executive Agency Programme are both considered Organisation level entities, although each Programme does have a relationship to an Executive Agency. Executive Agency codes are three characters long. Executive Agency Programme codes are six, and their first three characters are the same as the Executive Agency they are associated to.

Department codes of eight characters long can then be allocated underneath a Programme code (sharing the first six characters). Executive Agency Site codes of five characters long can be allocated under an Executive Agency code (and share the first three characters).

This provides a unique identifier of each site for an ORGANISATION.

Note: Only ORGANISATION SITE CODES which have been notified to and issued by the Organisation Data Service may be used.

ORGANISATION SITE CODING FRAMES

Notes:

• Organisation Data Service codes can be downloaded:
  • from the Organisation Data Service website for NHS staff only and
  • via files issued on the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) website
• Organisation Data Service contact details, can be found at Contact Details.

ORGANISATION SITE CODING FRAMES

• All NHS ORGANISATION SITES are coded using coding frames, as shown in the tables below:

NHS Organisation Sites:

A Frame:

Example
Local Service Provider Site e.g. LSP0101

• LSP = Org Type Identifier
• 01 = Organisation Identifier
• 01 = Site or sub-division

B Frame:

Example
Strategic Health Authority Site e.g. Q3001

• Q = Organisation Type Identifier
• 30 = Organisation Identifier
• 01 = Site or sub-division

Also:

C Frame:

Example
Independent Sector Healthcare Provider Site e.g. NT101

• NT = Organisation Site Type Identifier
• 1 = Organisation Identifier
• 01 = equals site or sub-division

Also:

D Frame

Example
GP Practice Branch Surgery: e.g. H81010002

• H (and length of code) = Organisation Identifier
• 81010 = Organisation Identifier (parent GP Practice)
• 002 = Branch Surgery Identifier

E Frame

Example
Special Health Authority (SpHA) Site: e.g. T2A001

• T2 = Organisation Type Identifier
• A0 = Organisation Identifier
• 1 = Site or Sub-Division Identifier

F Frame

Example
Dispensary: e.g. FA002

• F = Organisation Type Identifier
• A002 = Organisation Identifier

G Frame

Example
Local Authority Site: e.g. V001AA

• V = Organisation Type Identifier
• 001 = Organisation Identifier
• AA = Site or Sub-Division Identifier

Please Note: The Local Authority codes are not available for general use but must only be used to facilitate Spine Smartcard and Endpoint Registration.

H Frame

Example
Prison: e.g. YDE01

• YDE = Organisation Type Identifier
• 01 = Site or Sub-Division Identifier

I Frame

Example
Optical Site: e.g. TP01A,

• TP = Organisation Type Identifier
• 01A = Site or Sub-Division Identifier

J Frame

Example
Care Home Site: e.g. VN01A

• VN = Organisation Type Identifier
• 01A = Site or Sub-Division Identifier

The structure and format of ORGANISATION SITE CODES maintained by the Organisation Data Service, NHS Prescription Services and other agencies are detailed in the tables below.

NHS ORGANISATION SITE CODES TABLES

Coding Formats

Table 1: CODING FORMATS FOR ORGANISATION SITES IN ENGLAND AND WALES

ORGANISATION SITE CODES for England and Wales which are published by the Organisation Data Service can be found on their website at:
http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads.ORGANISATION SITE CODES for England and Wales are published by the Organisation Data Service and can be found:

• on their website at: http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads for NHS staff only and
• via files issued on the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) website.

Note: Codes for Executive Agency, Executive Agency Programme, Executive Agency Site and Executive Agency Programme Department do not easily fit into the coding frames as shown above and are therefore not included. This is due to their unusual structure in that there are more hierarchical 'tiers' than with other organisations.

Executive Agency and Executive Agency Programme are both considered Organisation level entities, although each Programme does have a relationship to an Executive Agency. Executive Agency codes are three characters long. Executive Agency Programme codes are six, and their first three characters are the same as the Executive Agency they are associated to.

Department codes of eight characters long can then be allocated underneath a Programme code (sharing the first six characters). Executive Agency Site codes of five characters long can be allocated under an Executive Agency code (and share the first three characters).

Table 2: CODING FORMATS FOR ORGANISATION SITES IN OTHER HOME COUNTRIES

ORGANISATION SITE CODES for Isle of Man Government Departments, Directorates and Sites which are published by the Organisation Data Service can be found on their website at:
http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads/iomdown.ORGANISATION SITE CODES for Isle of Man Government Departments, Directorates and Sites are published by the Organisation Data Service and can be found:

• on their website at: http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/ods/downloads/iomdown for NHS staff only and
• via files issued on the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service (TRUD) website.

Note: A-9 indicates that characters A-Z and 0-9 are valid: except B, I, O, S, U and Z (to avoid ambiguity).