The purpose of the meta model is to cohesively support the development and maintenance of NHS data standards in a consistent and integrated manner, which also supports the business process within and across the NHS, and with other non-NHS ORGANISATIONS involved with the care of PATIENTS.

The meta data model will form the underpinning common structure which can be used by all future data sets related to PATIENTS and CARE ACTIVITY whether they be 'administrative', 'clinical', 'management' etc.

A full review of the NHS Data Model and Dictionary has been done in order to bring existing information into line with the Meta Data Model. This is to facilitate support of legacy data standards and alignment with the National Programme for IT (NPfIT). This will therefore enable both legacy data standards and new data standards to be supported during the implementation of and migration to NPfIT. There may be further pieces of work which follow to ensure consistency of the NHS Data Model and Dictionary with the National Programme and other evolving data standards.