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Information standards

Information standards for health and care organisations to adopt, so that data can be shared and compared across the sector. An Information standard may be a technical, data, or information governance standard.

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About information standards

An information standard is defined in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 as: 'a document containing standards that relate to the processing of information'.

Information standards can be:

  • technical – such as relating to messaging
  • data – defining the structure and type of information to be recorded and submitted as a data set or a clinical terminology code set for example
  • information governance - relating to policies, procedures or guidelines on information processing for example

Assurance and current standards

Using information standards means that data can be understood across the sector, and used for planning and monitoring as well as for good patient care. The Data Alliance Partnership Board (DAPB) assures the quality of information standards.

Review the full list of current information standards and collections below.
 

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Information standards and data collections (including extractions)

The national governance arrangements for information standards, data collections and data extractions are the responsibility of the Data Alliance Partnership Board.

Information standards products and services

The following services design, govern and implement information standards for the benefit of healthcare services.
 

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Terminology and Classifications

National standards for recording and categorising information to support care delivery, statistical analysis, research and the reimbursement of health and care providers.  Sub-services include OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures (OPCS-4), International Classification of Diseases (ICD), SNOMED CT, dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d) and the National Interim Clinical Imaging Procedure (NICIP) code set.
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National Casemix Office

The National Casemix Office (NCO) designs and refines classifications used to describe NHS healthcare activity in England. These classifications underpin the national reimbursement system from costing through to payment, and support local commissioning and performance management.

Last edited: 12 January 2023 4:44 pm