NHS Information Authority

Data Standards Programme

Babies used to have to wait until their civil registration, up to six weeks after birth, before they received an NHS number. From the 29 October 2002 every baby born in England and Wales should have received their unique NHS number as soon as possible after birth, as part of the Information Authority's NHS Numbers for Babies (NN4B) Programme: http://www.nhsia.nhs.uk/nn4b

Midwives and maternity staff in England and Wales using an on-line computer link have been able to request and receive an NHS number for a baby as soon as it is born. Early issue of NHS numbers will give each baby a unique identifier making it easier to match test results, monitor quality of care, improve neonatal research and help provide clinicians with information needed to implement best practice. A newborn's personal and health details will therefore be consistent and accessible to ensure continuous quality healthcare.

In order to support this change it has been necessary to update the NHS Number guidance and take the opportunity to drop the 'new' status in recognition that the NHS number has been mandated since 1 April 1997 (DSCN 13/95/P12 and DSCN 44/96/P37). Note that babies' details will not be available on the NHS Strategic Tracing Service until after civil registration, so sites will not be able to verify the NHS Number until then.

PERSON IDENTIFIER TYPE

The classification of a PERSON IDENTIFIER.

Classification:

a.	Old NHS Number
b.	New NHS Number
b.	NHS Number
c.	Local Patient Identifier ('PAS' Number)
d.	Code of General Practitioner - PPA Code
e.	Code of General Practitioner - GMC Code
f.	Personal Identifier (Employee)
g.	Consultant Code - GMC
h.	Code of General Practitioner - Organisation Codes Service
i.	Nurse/Midwife Identifier - NMC
j.	General Dental Practitioner Code
k.	Code of Ophthalmic Medical Practitioner - GMC Code
l.	Code of Ophthalmic Medical Practitioner - Ophthalmic Qualification Committee (OQC) number
m.	Code of Ophthalmic Optician - General Ophthalmic Council(GOC) number
n.	Service or Personnel number
o.	Social Services Client Identifier

This attribute is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
plural	PERSON IDENTIFIER TYPES

NHS NUMBER

Format/length:	n10
HES item:	NEWNHSNO
National Codes:
Default Codes:

Notes:
It is mandatory to record the new NHS NUMBERS for each PATIENT. Exceptions to this rule are A&E care and babies under six weeks. The new NHS NUMBERS, the primary identifier of a PERSON, is a unique identifier for the PATIENT.It is mandatory to record the NHS NUMBER for each PATIENT. The exception to this rule is A&E care. The NHS NUMBER, the primary identifier of a PERSON, is a unique identifier for the PATIENT.

The NHS NUMBERS is 10 numeric digits in length. The tenth digit is a check digit used to confirm its validity. The check digit is validated using the Modulus 11 algorithm and the use of this algorithm is mandatory. There are 5 steps in the validation of the check digit:

Step 1

Multiply each of the first nine digits by a weighting factor as follows:

Digit Position (starting from the left)	Factor
1	10
2	9
3	8
4	7
5	6
5	6
4	7
3	8
2	9

Step 2

Add the results of each multiplication together.

Step 3

Divide the total by 11 and establish the remainder.

Step 4

Subtract the remainder from 11 to give the check digit. If the result is 11 then a check digit of 0 is used. If the result is 10 then the NHS NUMBERS is invalid and not used.

Step 5

Check the remainder matches the check digit. If it does not, the NHS NUMBERS is invalid.

References:
NHS Strategic Tracing Service: http://nww.nhsia.nhs.uk/nsts/pages/faq.asp

This data element is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
plural	NHS NUMBERS

NHS NUMBER STATUS INDICATOR

Format/length:	n2
HES item:
National Codes:
Default Codes:

Notes:
The following values can be used:

01	Number present and verified
02	Number present but not traced
03	Trace required
04	Trace attempted - No match or multiple match found
05	Trace needs to be resolved - (New NHS Number or patient detail conflict)
05	Trace needs to be resolved - (NHS Number or patient detail conflict)
06	Trace in progress
07	Number not present and trace not required
08	Trace postponed (baby under six weeks old)

This data element is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
plural	NHS NUMBER STATUS INDICATORS