Ethnic category coding

The collection of ethnic data in Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) is seen as an important duty by the Department of Health (DH) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

In fact, current equality legislation means that the collection of Ethnic Category is necessary in order to demonstrate compliance and to satisfy the requirements of Department of Health standards.

Additionally, NHS organisations are mandated by requirements in the NHS Data Dictionary to collect this data as part of submissions into the Secondary Uses Service (SUS). It is imported into HES from Secondary Uses Service.

All NHS organisations are expected to use good quality data for ethnic monitoring. Ethnic category data can be used to address inequalities by supporting NHS organisations to:

• monitor whether services are being delivered in a responsive way to meet the needs of their local population;
• assess whether individuals have equity of access to their services;
• determine whether certain groups are being discriminated against; and
• undertake health needs assessments.

The monitoring of ethnicity can also assist organisations to address potential complaints of racial discrimination in an appropriate way and reduce the emotional distress for those involved.

The Department of Health describes ethnic category as: 'An "ethnic group" [ethnic category] is identified as people who share characteristics such as language, history, culture, upbringing, religion, nationality, geographical and ancestral origins and place. This provides the group with a distinct identity as seen both by themselves and by others. A person self-assigns his or her own ethnic group [ethnic category].'

The CQC used to conduct an annual health check where the performance of trusts was assessed against a data quality on ethnic performance indicator. However, following the publication of the NHS Operating Framework for 2010/11 this periodic review was halted.

The Ethnic Category coverage report, which analyses HES Admitted Patient Care statistics for the data years 2004-05 to 2009-10 (the latest full year for which data is available), aims to provide an insight into the progress being made within the NHS to correctly capture this valuable patient information.

It analyses the proportion of missing ethnic codes in 2009-10 HES data and which types of admitted patient episodes have poor coverage.

The Ethnic Category coverage report, which analyses HES Admitted Patient Care statistics for the data years 2004-05 to 2009-10 (the latest full year for which data is available), aims to provide an insight into the progress being made within the NHS to correctly capture this valuable patient information.

It analyses the proportion of missing ethnic codes in 2009-10 HES data and which types of admitted patient episodes have poor coverage.