This field contains a code that defines the specialty in which the consultant was working during the period of care. It can be compared with mainspef, the specialty under which the consultant is contracted.

Prior to 1 April 1996, this data item contained the code for the sub-specialty (subspef).

From April 2004 a new list of treatment specialities was introduced (see below). The new list describes the specialised service within which the patient was treated.

From 1 April 2025

100 = General surgery

101 = Urology

102 = Transplantation surgery (includes renal and liver transplants, excludes cardiothoracic transplantation)

103 = Breast surgery (includes suspected neoplasms, cysts etc, does not include cosmetic surgery)

104 = Colorectal surgery (surgical treatment of disorders of the lower intestine - colon, anus and rectum)

105 = Hepatobiliary & pancreatic surgery (includes liver surgery but excludes liver transplantation see transplantation surgery)

106 = Upper gastrointestinal surgery

107 = Vascular surgery

110 = Trauma & orthopaedics

120 = Ear, nose and throat (ENT)

130 = Ophthalmology

140 = Oral surgery

141 = Restorative dentistry (endodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics)

142 = Paediatric dentistry

143 = Orthodontics

144 = Maxillo-facial surgery

150 = Neurosurgery

160 = Plastic surgery

161 = Burns care (recognised specialist services only - includes 'outreach' facilities)

170 = Cardiothoracic surgery (where there are no separate services for cardiac and thoracic surgery)

171 = Paediatric surgery

172 = Cardiac surgery

173 = Thoracic surgery

174 = Cardiothoracic transplantation (recognised specialist services only - includes 'outreach' facilities)

180 = Accident & emergency (A&E;)

190 = Not a treatment function

191 = Pain management (complex pain disorders requiring diagnosis and treatment by a specialist multi-professional team)

192 = Critical care medicine (also known as intensive care medicine)

199 = Non-UK Provider - specialty function not known, treatment mainly surgical

211 = Paediatric Urology (from 2006-07)

212 = Paediatric Transplantation Surgery (from 2006-07)

213 = Paediatric Gastrointestinal Surgery (from 2006-07)

214 = Paediatric Trauma and Orthopaedics (from 2006-07)

215 = Paediatric Ear Nose and Throat (from 2006-07)

216 = Paediatric Ophthalmology (from 2006-07)

217 = Paediatric Maxillo-Facial Surgery (from 2006-07)

218 = Paediatric Neurosurgery (from 2006-07)

219 = Paediatric Plastic Surgery (from 2006-07)

220 = Paediatric Burns Care (from 2006-07)

221 = Paediatric Cardiac Surgery (from 2006-07)

222 = Paediatric Thoracic Surgery (from 2006-07)

241 = Paediatric Pain Management (from 2006-07)

242 = Paediatric Intensive Care (from 2006-07)

251 = Paediatric Gastroenterology (from 2006-07)

252 = Paediatric Endocrinology (from 2006-07)

253 = Paediatric Clinical Haetology (from 2006-07)

254 = Paediatric Audiological Medicine (from 2006-07)

255 = Paediatric Clinical Immunology and Allergy (from 2006-07)

256 = Paediatric Infectious diseases (from 2006-07)

257 = Paediatric Dermatology (from 2006-07)

258 = Paediatric Respiratory Medicine (from 2006-07)

259 = Paediatric Nephrology (from 2006-07)

260 = Paediatric Medical Oncology (from 2006-07)

261 = Paediatric Metabolic disease (from 2006-07)

262 = Paediatric Pheumalogy (from 2006-07)

280 = Paediatric Interventional Radiology (from 2006-07)

290 = Community Paediatrics (from 2006-07)

291 = Paediatric Neuro-disability (from 2006-07)

300 = General medicine

301 = Gastroenterology

302 = Endocrinology

303 = Clinical haematology

304 = Clinical Physiology (from 2008-09)

305 = Clinical pharmacology

306 = Hepatology

307 = Diabetic medicine

308 = Bone and marrow transplantation (previously part of clinical haematology)

309 = Haemophilia (previously part of clinical haematology)

310 = Audiological medicine

311 = Clinical genetics

312 = Not a treatment function

313 = Clinical immunology and allergy (where there are no separate services for clinical immunology and allergy)

314 = Rehabilitation

315 = Palliative medicine

316 = Clinical immunology

317 = Allergy

318 = Intermediate care (encompasses a range of multidisciplinary services designed to safeguard independence by maximising rehabilitation and recovery)

319 = Respite care

320 = Cardiology

321 = Paediatric cardiology

322 = Clinical microbiology

323 = Spinal Injuries (from 2006-07)

330 = Dermatology

340 = Thoracic medicine

341 = Respiratory Physiology (previously known as Sleep studies)

350 = Infectious diseases

352 = Tropical medicine

360 = Genito-urinary medicine

361 = Nephrology

370 = Medical oncology

371 = Nuclear Medicine (from 2008-09)

400 = Neurology

401 = Clinical Neurophysiology (from 2008-09)

410 = Rheumatology

420 = Paediatrics

421 = Paediatric neurology

422 = Neonatology

424 = Well babies (care given by the mother/substitute, with nursing advice if needed)

430 = Geriatric medicine

450 = Dental medicine

460 = Medical ophthalmology

499 = Non-UK Provider - specialty function not known, treatment mainly medical

500 = Not a treatment function

501 = Obstetrics

502 = Gynaecology

503 = Gynaecological oncology

510 and 520 = Not treatment functions

560 = Midwife episode

600, 610 and 620 = Not treatment functions

650 = Physiotherapy (from 2006-07)

651 = Occupational Therapy (from 2006-07)

652 = Speech and Language Therapy (from 2006-07)

653 = Podiatry (from 2006-07)

654 = Dietetics (from 2006-07)

655= Orthoptics (from 2006-07)

656 = Clinical Psychology (from 2006-07)

700 = Learning disability (previously known as mental handicap)

710 = Adult mental illness

711 = Child and adolescent psychiatry

712 = Forensic psychiatry

713 = Psychotherapy

715 = Old age psychiatry

720 = Eating Disorders (from 2006-07)

721 = Addicition Services (from 2006-07)

722 = Liaison Psychiatry (from 2006-07)

723 = Psychiatric Intensive Care(from 2006-07)

724 = Perinatal Psychiatry (from 2006-07)

800 = Clinical oncology (previously known as Radiotherapy)

810 = Radiology (until 2005-06)

811 = Interventional radiology

812 = Diagnostic Imaging (from 2008-09)

820 and 821 = Not treatment functions

822 = Chemical pathology

823, 824, 830, 831 832, 900, 901, 950 and 990 = Not treatment functions

840 = Audiology (from 2008-09)

null = Other maternity event

& = Not known