Format/length:	annnnnnnn
HES item:	SOAL
National Codes:
Default Codes:	Z99999999 - Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man
	X99999998 - Not Applicable (outside the United Kingdom)
	X99999999 - Not Known

Notes:

The Lower Layer Super Output Area for where the PATIENT is resident. This is the GEOGRAPHIC AREA CODE where the GEOGRAPHIC AREA TYPE is national code 15 - Lower Layer Super Output Area.

There is a Lower Layer Super Output Area for each POSTCODE in England and Wales.

The Organisation Data Service provide files which link postcodes to the Lower Layer Super Output Area. See the Organisation Data Service website at Contact Details or the online distribution service, TRUD (Terminology Reference Data Update Distribution Service), for the NHS Postcode Directory Gridlink ® Record Specification and data file.