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DCB1521: Cancer Outcomes and Services Data set

The national standard for reporting cancer in the NHS in England

About this information standard

The Cancer Outcomes and Services Data set (COSD) provides the national standard for reporting activity to support implementation and monitoring of Improving Outcomes: a Strategy for Cancer (IOSC).

Version 9.0 introduces a number of changes including a split into two distinct data sets, COSD v9 (excluding all pathological elements) and COSD Pathology v4. All changes are detailed in the Change Request below.

These changes should be implemented by 1 April 2020, with full conformance required by 1 July 2020.

This information standard is published under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. An Information Standards Notice (see below) provides an overview of scope and implementation timescales, and the other listed documents provide further detail for those who have to implement the information standard.


Current release

Version 9.0

Release date
12 September 2019
Release number Amd 13/2019
Release title Version 9.0
Stage Implementation
Key documents
Supporting documents
Further information  

More information can be found at PHE: National Cancer Intelligence Network (external link)

or please contact the COSD Help Desk - [email protected]


Last edited: 11 October 2019 11:14 am