Data Dictionaries

Data dictionaries are the same as 'normal' dictionaries, but they contain information about data items. In this case the data items collected in HES and across the NHS.

The HES Data Dictionaries provide detailed information on the fields from the admitted patient, outpatient, A&E; and adult critical care datasets that are collected by HES, and the PROMs dataset. These include those submitted directly by the data providers and also fields we derive and add to the datasets. The admitted patient dictionary also identifies which cleaning or derivation rules have been applied to which fields.

The NHS Data Dictionary covers all datasets and data items used in the NHS, not just those from which HES is extracted. It is developed and maintained by the Data and Information Standards team of the NHSIA (NPfIT). The NHS Data Dictionary specifies which fields are also in HES.