CONSULTANT CODE

A code uniquely identifying a CONSULTANT.

The CONSULTANT CODE is derived from either the GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL REFERENCE NUMBER for GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, or the GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL REGISTRATION NUMBER for GENERAL DENTAL PRACTITIONERS (where the dentist doesn't have a GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL REFERENCE NUMBER).

For GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS working as CONSULTANTS, the GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER's GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL REFERENCE NUMBER should be used, see data item note for GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER (SPECIFIED).

For GENERAL DENTAL PRACTITIONERS  working as a:

• Hospital CONSULTANT, the GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL REFERENCE NUMBER should be used, prefixed with "C"

• Dental CONSULTANT:

  • Who does not have a GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL REFERENCE NUMBER, the GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL REGISTRATION NUMBER should be used, prefixed with "CD".

  • Where the GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL REFERENCE NUMBER or GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL REGISTRATION NUMBER is not known, the default code should be used, see CONSULTANT CODE  or Organisation Data Service Default Codes.

Note: There are some overseas-qualified dentists who are not fully registered with the General Dental Council but enjoy what is called "Temporary Registration". These dentists are not currently in the scope of the Dental Consultant codes file published by the  Organisation Data Service and will not be included.

Consultant Code format

Practitioner Code Type	Character Position								Allocated By	Allocated To	Known As	Notes
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Hospital Consultant	C	0-9	0-9	0-9	0-9	0-9	0-9	0-9	NHS Digital	Hospital Consultants in England and Wales	Consultant Code	Derived from GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL REFERENCE NUMBER, prefixed with a C. For further information, please refer to  English Hospital Consultants and Welsh Hospital Consultants.
Dental Consultant	C	D	0-9	0-9	0-9	0-9	0-9	0-9	NHS Digital	Dental Consultants in England and Wales	Dental Consultant Code	Derived from GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL REGISTRATION NUMBER, prefixed with CD. Note that GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL REGISTRATION NUMBERS  vary in length. Filling zeros are used between the prefix and GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL REGISTRATION NUMBER, where required, to maintain total length of 8 characters. For further information, please refer to English Dental Consultants.

For NHS PATIENTS treated overseas, the commissioner of the overseas treatment is responsible for assuring that the overseas doctor is provided with a GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL REFERENCE NUMBER. In the case of overseas doctors, the default code C9999998 should only be used where no GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL REFERENCE NUMBER has been assigned.

All Midwife Episodes are identified in the Admitted Patient Care Commissioning Data Set (CDS) and Hospital Episode Statistics  by a pseudo MAIN SPECIALTY CODE, 560, see Main Specialty and Treatment Function Codes Table. A default code is used in the CONSULTANT CODE field to show that a MIDWIFE is the responsible professional. Note that the MIDWIFE's own code is not used.

All Nursing Episodes are identified in the Admitted Patient Commissioning Data Set and Hospital Episode Statistics by a pseudo MAIN SPECIALTY CODE, 950, see Main Specialty and Treatment Function Codes Table. A default code is used in the CONSULTANT CODE field to show that a NURSE is the responsible professional. Note that the NURSE's own  Nursing and Midwifery Council code is not used.