About the NHS Data Model and Dictionary

The purpose of the NHS Data Model and Dictionary and other complementary resources and services.

The NHS Data Model and Dictionary gives a reference point for assured information standards, to support health care activities in the NHS in England. The NHS Data Model and Dictionary has been developed for everyone who is actively involved in the collection of data and the management of information in the NHS.

The NHS Data Model and Dictionary Service provides the development, maintenance and support of NHS Information Standards.

For further information on the NHS Data Model and Dictionary Version 3, see: About the NHS Data Model and Dictionary Version 3.

Published Information Standards can be found at: Published Information Standards Documentation.

The NHS Data Model and Dictionary Service thank the Big Data Institute Oxford University for their support providing the Mauro Data Mapper tooling and expertise to publish the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

The NHS Data Model and Dictionary is modelled using the following convention and naming:

  • Data Sets are a group of Data Elements that are required to support business analysis. Data Sets are built from a series of Data Elements and, optionally, groups of data elements.
  • Data Elements are a specialised use of Attributes for use within the context of the Data Set. For example they may display default codes applicable to a specific Data Element, to handle circumstances where data are not available.
  • Attributes describe the properties of Classes and provide common data definitions for classes. For example, NHS NUMBER is an Attribute of the Class Patient.
  • Classes describe aspects of the health and care business with their significant characteristics through their Attributes and their relationships to other Classes.
  • NHS Business Definitions describe, for example, an aspect of NHS activity, clinical process, supporting definition etc. that is specific to a Class.
  • Supporting Information is not a part of the NHS Data Model but provides additional context to help users understand the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.
  • Retired items are not included in the current definitions but are listed in the All Items Index.