Announcement of methodological change in Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) annual publications

These changes will be implemented in 2015 and will be in place for the following publications

• Hospital Episode Statistics: Admitted Patient Care, England – 2013/14
• Hospital Outpatient Activity – 2013/14
• NHS Maternity Statistics, England – 2013/14
• Accident and Emergency Attendances in England – 2013/14

The SHA of residence data table will be replaced with an Area Team (AT) of residence data table for 2013-14. Figures for 2012-13 will be re-stated at the AT level to allow a time series comparison.

Within the provider level analysis tables the breakdown by Strategic Health Authority (SHA) will be replaced with a breakdown by Area Team (AT) of treatment for 2013-14. This update reflects the changed in NHS structure, with ATs replacing SHAs from April 1 2013. Within these tables figures for AT will not be re-stated for 2012-13.

Within the diagnosis data tables the methodology used to derived counts of all diagnosis at the 4 character level has been revised to count every episode with an instance of a diagnosis as opposed to a count of every instance of a diagnosis.

An additional column will be added to each of the data tables to show a count of FCEs with zero bed days. This additional column provides a count of episodes where the episode has been classified as an ordinary admission and the patient has been discharged on the same day as the admission

Within the provider level analysis tables the breakdown by Strategic Health Authority (SHA) will be replaced with a breakdown by Area Team (AT) for 2013-14. This update reflects the changed in NHS structure, with ATs replacing SHAs from April 1 2013. Within these tables figures for AT will not be re-stated for 2012-13.

Within the provider level analysis tables the breakdown by Strategic Health Authority (SHA) will be replaced with a breakdown by Area Team (AT) for 2013-14. This update reflects the changed in NHS structure, with ATs replacing SHAs from April 1 2013. Within these tables figures for AT will not be re-stated for 2012-13.

Within the provider level analysis tables the breakdown by Strategic Health Authority (SHA) will be replaced with a breakdown by Area Team (AT) for 2013-14. This update reflects the changed in NHS structure, with ATs replacing SHAs from April 1 2013. Within these tables figures for AT will not be re-stated for 2012-13.

An additional table will be included comparing the number of HES attendances against the number of NHS England Situation Report (‘Sitreps’) attendances. These counts will be broken down by type of A&E unit.

HES data is subject to disclosure control rules at lower level geographies to prevent identification of individuals. These are described in the HES analysis guide. 

The methodology for applying these rules is currently under review. This will be subject to full public consultation. If any changes are planned advance notification will be given.