DATA ELEMENTS INTRODUCTION

Data Elements Introduction

Data elements are used to identify or indicate the content of:

    i. the Commissioning Data Sets (CDS)
    ii. the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)
    iii. the Central Returns

In addition, data elements can contain text providing guidance, support, values or other information concerning the data element and its use with the above.

The data elements are listed in alphabetical order. Click on a letter in the Data Element Bookmarks to display the list of data element names for that letter in the right hand screen frame. To display the content of a specific data element, click on the data element name. The content of the data element replaces the list of data element names in the rightmost screen frame.

Each attribute name, class name or data element name which appears in the data element content text is in uppercase. Where the name also appears in blue and is underlined indicates that it is clickable and if clicked on will display the definition for that class or attribute, or the content of the data element. In the same way, if a data button is present and clicked on, the definition of the class or attribute will be displayed.

The following information may be shown within a data element:

Definition button A definition button indicates that a class or attribute definition exists with the same name. Click on the button to display the class or attribute definition.
When no button is present, the data element itself is either a derived item which is derivable from classes and/or attributes or only exists as a data element.
Format/length: An entry in this field defines the format and length of the data element, the following conventions are used for format:
a   is alphabetic characters only
n   is numeric characters only
an is alphanumeric i.e. alphabetic and numeric characters allowed
The number following the format code indicates the field length of the data element, e.g. an3 has a field length of three alphanumeric characters.
HES item: An entry in this field indicates that the data element is used by HES and is identified by the entered name e.g. data element BIRTH DATE has a HES item name of DOB.
If the field is blank, the data element is not used by HES.
National Codes: An entry in this field indicates that the National Codes or classifications exist for the data element (usually as an attribute but occasionally as an class type) and describes how to view them e.g. Press Definition button for the National Codes or Press Definition button for the Classifications.
If there are no agreed National Codes or classifications for the data element, the field is blank.
A National Code has nationally agreed values for each code which must be used in conjunction with the data element whereas for a classification, the classifications will be nationally agreed but will have no nationally agreed values assigned to them. Usually for classifications, the values to be used in conjunction with the data element will be contained within Notes: content e.g. see AGE GROUP INTENDED.
Default Codes: An entry in this field indicates that in addition to the nationally agreed National Codes or classifications, default codes may be used. These default codes only appear within data elements and are not nationally agreed data standards i.e. they are not supported by an class or attribute definition. The following formats for default codes may be used:
Not known       coded as 99 (2-digit codes) and 9 (1-digit code)
Not applicable  coded as 98 (2-digit codes) and 8 (1-digit code)
This general rule however, is not totally consistent. For some data elements, code 8 has been assigned a meaning other than Not applicable e.g. DELIVERY PLACE TYPE (ACTUAL). Such exceptions are indicated within the Notes: content.
Notes: Provides guidance, support, values or other information concerning the data element and its usage. Any attribute name, class name or data element name which appears in the Notes text is in uppercase. Where the name also appears in blue and is underlined indicates that it is clickable and if clicked on will display the definition for that class or attribute, or the content of the data element.