Data Standards
ID | S27 |
Version | 2.0.8 |
Type | Overarching Standard |
Status | Effective |
Effective Date | Nov 27, 2025 |
Contracting Vehicle(s) |
Introduction
Defines detailed technical standards for the storage, management and organisation of data and specifies standardised reference data, terminology and codes.
Data Standards is a mandatory Standard which defines the data and information Standards that must be adhered to and the operational and information reference data such as clinical terminology, drug database data sets, and organisational codes which must be utilised within the Solution to provide consistency of information.
NHS Data Standards are contained in the NHS Data Dictionary and Manual in the form of an entity relationship diagram or data model. The NHS Data Dictionary and Manual also holds the standards for field lengths and formats, and codes for classification lists.
Solutions are to use Organisation Data Service (ODS) data as the primary source of reference data for NHS related organisations and individuals. Solution will provide the UK Edition of SNOMED CT as its primary coding scheme; this will have, where appropriate, primacy over any other deprecated coding terminology For further information, see SNOMED CT.
Solutions are expected to enable efficient coding, and retrieval of clinical information for use both within the Catalogue Solution and other Solutions externally by appropriate third parties to support ongoing and future Patient care. Clinical Terminology, such as SNOMED CT, is essential for the interoperability of electronic health records across care settings. The standard supports the conversion of machine-readable code into meaningful, human-readable defined text and vice versa, thus providing a basis for supporting communication between clinicians, and the safe transfer of data between Solutions.
Baseline Assurance Standard Requirements
The Baseline Assurance Standard (BAS) provides a proportionate, risk-based assurance approach for Solutions; balancing safety against efficiency by combining a minimum set of essential Requirements from the DSIC Overarching Standards. Completing the BAS is the first step to achieving full assurance with the Overarching Standards allowing Supplier Solutions to be published on the Buying Catalogue. Upon meeting this Standard, Solutions are required to meet any remaining Further Requirements in the Overarching Standard as applicable to the Contracting Vehicle within a period of 12 months.
All Baseline Assurance Requirements can be found here. Each Solution will be assigned a category of A, B or C that determines the level of assurance applied to that Solution. See the relevant category column to understand the assurance required for each Requirement. For information on Solution Categories see Solution Categories for Assurance in DSIC.
The following table of Requirements are the Requirements in the Baseline Assurance Standard related to the Data Standards Standard.
Applicable Contracting Vehicle(s) | ID | Requirement | Level | Category A | Category B | Category C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Data & Information Standards | ||||||
| DS01 | NHS Data Dictionary Standards Adhere to NHS Data Dictionary and Manual Standards for field lengths and formats, and codes for lists. | MUST | Self-certification Self-certification description to include:
| Self-certification Self-certification description to include:
| Self-certification Self-certification description to include:
|
| SCT11 | NHS Number ISB The Supplier will adhere to the NHS Number Standard (ISB 0149). | MUST | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
|
Reference Data | ||||||
| SCT3.7 | Coding & Terminology If your Solution contains Clinical Information it must be coded against the UK Edition SNOMED CT. For further information, see SNOMED CT. | MUST | Full Assessment Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
|
| SCT3.1 | Coding & Terminology - Up to date edition The most up to date UK Edition of SNOMED CT will be implemented within the Solution. See TRUD for the latest edition. | MUST | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification
| Self-certification
|
| GP-REF-2.1.2 | Terminology Mapping Where a Solution contains legacy primary clinical coded data (either Read V2 or CTV3) the Solution to map to SNOMED CT using the mapping tables published on TRUD; the maps to be used irrespective of the ‘IsAssured’ flag (indicator within the mapping tables). Suppliers are required to do this once when migrating from legacy coded data to SNOMED CT but will continue to be able use the mapping tables if they so choose. The Solution to allow users to identify coded data mapped using an unassured map. For all other purposes, the ‘IsAssured’ flag to be considered/interpreted and used as specified by the relevant requirements e.g. GP2GP. Where not specified the map to be used irrespective of the flag status. Suppliers can use alternative maps as agreed with the Authority for the codes highlighted for special attention (e.g. for codes with values using the 'Alternate Maps' file) - see NHS Data Migration on TRUD. | must | Self-certification | Self-certification | Self-certification |
| GP-REF-2.1.3 | Amendments to the Authority's Mapping Tables Where a Solution contains legacy primary clinical coded data (either Read V2, or CTV3) to address errors or agreed changes to maps in the national mapping tables, the Solution to ensure it is possible to re-map data already mapped to SNOMED CT via an updated mapping table. | must | Self-certification | Self-certification | Self-certification |
| GP-REF-2.1.8 | Code Mapping/Migration Audit Trail The Solution to retain in full, an audit of all past and present code mappings/data migration activity, and for this to be accessible with the correct permissions via the Solution User Interface. See Information Governance Standard for audit requirements. | must | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification
| Self-certification
|
| GP-03.1-01 | Primary Source of organisations and individuals reference data Use ODS as the primary source of reference data for organisations and individuals (ODS is the legal source for organisational information). For further information see ODS. Also see TRUD link for ODS. | must | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification | Self-certification |
| SCT8 | Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) The Supplier will ensure that where Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) is used that the ISB Standards are followed. For Standards on identification see: | MUST | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Self-certification description to include:
Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification Self-certification description to include:
| Self-certification Self-certification description to include:
|
| MR2.4.01 | Subscription to Notification Services The Supplier will subscribe to the following TRUD services:
Subscription to these services will ensure that the Supplier is notified (via email) on the day that any new release is made available to download from TRUD. The notification date will be regarded as the date of release. | must | Self-certification | Self-certification | Self-certification |
| SCT6 | NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d) The Supplier will ensure that all Solutions support the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d) Standard. dm+d is a dictionary containing unique identifiers (codes) and associated textual descriptions for representing medicines and medical devices in information systems and electronic communications. This is of particular importance to the supporting of prescribing items. See Dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d). | MUST | Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification with Supporting Evidence Supporting evidence to include:
| Self-certification |
| DS03 | Reference Data Updates The Supplier will deploy updates to any reference data within 8 weeks of its release. Release notifications are issued by TRUD. | must | Self-certification | Self-certification | Self-certification |
| GP-03.2-09 | Prevent amendment of reference data Prevent Users from amending the source/underlying data from any nationally provided Reference Data. | MUST | Self-certification | Self-certification | Self-certification |
Further Requirements
Suppliers must complete assurance for these Requirements in addition to Requirements in the Baseline Assurance Standard in order to achieve full compliance with the Data Standards. Suppliers can complete these at the same time as requirements within the Baseline Assurance Standard or following the publication on the Buying Catalogue subject to meeting the timelines laid out by the Authority.
Applicable Contracting Vehicle(s) | ID | Requirement | Level | Category A | Category B | Category C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reference Data | ||||||
| SCT1 | ICD-10 The Supplier will ensure that where ICD (International Classification of Diseases) encoding is required, it shall adhere to the ICD 10 specification. For further information on classifications see Terminology and Classifications and TRUD. | MUST | Self-certification | Self-certification | Self-certification |
| SCT2 | OPCS The Supplier will ensure that where OPCS encoding is required, the Solution adheres to the latest version. For Standard on OPCS, see SCCI 0084 - OPCS Classification of Interventions and Procedures. For further information on classifications see Terminology and Classifications. | MUST | Self-certification | Self-certification | Self-certification |
| SCT3.2 | Coding & Terminology - Single active edition The Solution will not allow more than one edition of the primary coding scheme to be active at any one time and the Solution will only allow the use of the latest installed edition of this coding scheme. | MUST | Self-certification | Self-certification | Self-certification |
| SCT3.3 | Coding & Terminology - Same edition of terminology Where a Solution uses more than one terminology product (e.g. subsets, mapping tables), all products will be based on the same Edition of that terminology. | MUST | Self-certification | Self-certification | Self-certification |
| SCT3.4 | Coding & Terminology - ISB0034 SNOMED CT covers clinical terms for use by Secondary, Primary, Health and Social care. The Supplier will ensure that where SNOMED CT or any of its derivative products are used, Solutions will implement and use the SNOMED CT Standard as defined by SNOMED International, SNOMED CT (SCCI 0034) and The Authority’s Terminology Service. For further information, see SNOMED CT. | MUST | Self-certification | Self-certification | Self-certification |