We deliver systems and services to the NHS and the wider health and social care sector which help providers deliver better care. Our information, data, and IT systems help health professionals, commissioners, analysts and managers give the best outcomes for patients.
Systems and services
A
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening
We identify individuals at highest risk of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, and invite them for screening
Adoption Registration Service
This service can check for a record of a Civil Death Registration in England, Wales and the Isle of Man on behalf of adoptees and birth relatives to establish if an adoptee or birth relative is recorded as having died. You can also use this service to forward information about hereditary medical conditions to an adoptee's or birth relative's GP.
Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF)
The Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) measures how well care and support services achieve the outcomes that matter most to people. The measures are grouped into four domains which are typically reviewed in terms of movement over time. Data is provided at council, regional and national level.
B
Benefits management
NHS Digital's benefit management team ensures that benefits are considered throughout the lifecycle of every programme and into service.
Bowel Cancer Screening Services
The Bowel Cancer Screening System (BCSS) identifies eligible men and women to participate in bowel cancer screening.
Breast screening
The National Health Application and Infrastructure Services (NHAIS) Breast Screening System is used to select women on local NHAIS systems who are eligible for breast screening.
C
Calculating Quality Reporting Service
The Calculating Quality Reporting Service (CQRS) is an approvals, reporting and payments calculation system for GP practices.
Cancer Screening Programme National Statistics
Aggregated statistical data are collected from primary care organisations' NHAIS systems and used to assist the running of the screening programmes.
Cancer Waiting Times
The National Cancer Waiting Times system allows NHS providers to record data derived from patient care activity.
Child Protection - Information Sharing project
The Child Protection - Information Sharing project (CP-IS) is helping health and social care staff to share information securely to better protect society's most vulnerable children.
Clinical Audit Management Service
The Clinical Audit Management Service delivers all elements of the full clinical audit lifecycle, from the development of the audit's questions and scope, to local and national feedback and reporting.
Clinical Audit Platform
The Clinical Audit Platform is a web based system for health and care staff submitting data across our range of clinical audits and registries.
Clinical audits and registries
NHS Digital runs clinical audits and registries for the health and care system in England.
Clinical Record Standards
Our standards provide a consistent way for information to be collected across the NHS.
Clinical Safety Team
We ensure the operation of a consistent clinical safety management approach so that NHS IT systems support clinicians in providing better, safer patient care.
Common User Interface (CUI)
The design of common methods to use healthcare IT systems relies on standards and guidance.
D
Data Access Request Service (DARS)
We handle applications, process data and provide access to specific sets of data when requests are approved.
Data and cyber security: protecting information and data in health and care
Our Data Security Centre supports health and care to keep patient information and computer systems safe.
Data Services for Commissioners (DSfC)
The Data Services for Commissioners supports the provision of data to facilitate healthcare planning and payment within the NHS.
Data sets and the Bureau Service Portal
The Systems and Service Delivery (SSD) team within NHS Digital host the Bureau Service Portal.
Demographics
The Personal Demographics Service (PDS) is a national authoritative source of patient demographics data for the whole of the NHS.
Diagnostics Data Service
Improving data quality and interoperability standards in pathology, imaging, endoscopy, physiological measures and genomics health services.
Digital Child Health
Our purpose is to support the delivery of the recommendations set out in the NHS England strategy Healthy Children: Transforming Child Health Information. Find out more about what we're doing.
Directory of Services (DoS)
The Directory of Services (DoS) is a central directory that is integrated with NHS Pathways and is automatically accessed if the patient does not require an ambulance or by any attending clinician in the urgent and emergency care services.
E
Electronic Prescription Service
The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) sends electronic prescriptions from GP surgeries to pharmacies.
F
Family Nurse Partnership
The Family Nurse Partnership is an intensive, nurse-led programme of home visits for vulnerable, first time, young parents.
Female Genital Mutilation Risk Indication System (FGM RIS)
The FGM RIS is a national IT system that supports the early intervention and ongoing safeguarding of girls, under the age of 18, who are potentially at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM).
Future GP IT systems and services
GPs, practice staff, suppliers and buyers in CCGs and CSUs can work with us to improve GP IT systems and services.
G
General Practice (GP) Collections
We collect information from GPs across the UK for use in planning, research and generating payments.
General Practice Extraction Service
The General Practice Extraction Service (GPES) collects information for a wide range of purposes, including providing GP payments. It works with the Calculating Quality Reporting Service (CQRS) and GP clinical systems as part of the GP Collections service.
GP2GP
GP2GP enables patients' electronic health records to be transferred directly and securely between GP practices.
GP payments
The GP Payments system provides NHS England with the tools for managing the calculation of payments to GP practices.
GP Systems of Choice
GP Systems of Choice is a contractual framework to supply IT systems and services to GP practices and associated organisations in England. It makes sure GPs and practice staff have access to the best technology to support patient care.
H
HA/GP Links Items of Service Claims Processing
An electronic data interchange between health authorities and GPs operating throughout England and Wales.
Health and Justice Information Services
The Health and Justice Information Services (HJIS) team supports NHS England in delivering a new integrated health IT system for the English Health and Justice service's residential detention settings.
Health and Social Care Network
The Health and Social Care Network (HSCN) will provide a reliable, efficient and flexible way for health and care organisations to access and exchange electronic information.
Health Survey for England Bloodbank
Researchers can apply to use blood samples taken and stored as part of the Health Survey for England (HSE).
Health Surveys Service
We have the expertise and experience of running complex health surveys for other organisations, both local and national.
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)
HES is a data warehouse containing details of all admissions, outpatient appointments and A and E attendances at NHS hospitals in England.
I
Independent Communication Manager
The Independent Communications Manager (ICM) acts as the communications interface for National Health Applications and Infrastructure Services (NHAIS) applications.
Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data
The Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data (IGARD) considers all requests for dissemination of confidential information, as defined in Section 263 of the Health & Social Care Act, through the Data Access Request Service (DARS). We aim to improve transparency, accountability, quality and consistency through robust, independent scrutiny of NHS Digital data distributions, as well as providing a voice for stakeholders and the public.
Indicator Methodology and Assurance Service
The Indicator Methodology and Assurance Service (IMAS) is a dedicated system-wide resource hosted by NHS Digital, conducting assessments against set transparent criteria. IMAS works collaboratively with colleagues to develop quality indicators and to support applicants through the quality assurance process.
Indicator Portal
This brings a range of health indicators together in one place, providing quick and easy access to around 1,900 indicators.
Information Governance Alliance (IGA)
The authoritative source of advice and guidance about the rules on using and sharing information in health and care.
Innovative Uses of Data
This service will support the planning, delivery and evaluation of health and social care. By creating tools and analytics that harness data science techniques, we can offer new insights that are easily accessed and understood.
Isle of Man Bowel Cancer Screening System
The Bowel Cancer Screening System (BCSS) identifies and invites eligible men and women to participate in bowel cancer screening.
iView and iViewPlus
Making data more easily accessible to a wider range of data users than ever before. Access and extract information to meet your own needs - make selections, view comparisons, create tables and generate graphs.
L
Local Service Providers
Local Service Provider (LSP) Delivery supports the Department of Health in delivery against LSP contracts.
M
M-Connect 2
Access health authority data to run queries and conduct detailed analysis.
Message Exchange for Social Care and Health (MESH)
The main messaging service used across health and social care, allowing health and care organisations to communicate securely.
MIS Downloads
Extract data from the National Health Application and Infrastructure Services (NHAIS) database.
Mobile Technology Investment Toolkit
Our Mobile Technology Investment Toolkit contains support and guidance on initiating and implementing mobile working programmes and projects.
Morbidity Information Query and Export Syntax (MIQUEST)
MIQUEST enables the collection of health data from GP computer systems in a common computer-readable format.
N
National Adult Social Care Intelligence Service (NASCIS)
The National Adult Social Care Intelligence Service (NASCIS) is a single national resource of social care information for England. It has a collection of data, tools and resources designed to meet the needs of service planners, managers, researchers and policy makers and others.
National Back Office for the Personal Demographics Service
The National Back Office (NBO) provides a national data quality service. It's responsible for the management of NHS Numbers and PDS records, investigation and resolution of data quality incidents on Personal Demographics Service (PDS) demographic records, and the provision of a Tracing Service to approved organisations.
National Breast Screening
BS Select and the BS Information System are browser-based applications that support National Breast Screening services in England.
National Casemix Office
The National Casemix Office (NCO) designs and refines classifications used to describe NHS healthcare activity in England. These classifications underpin the national reimbursement system from costing through to payment, and support local commissioning and performance management.
National Cervical Screening
The call/recall system invites women for a smear test based upon criteria such as age, location, GP and previous test results.
National Clinical Content Repository (Copyright Licensing Service)
The National Clinical Content Repository (NCCR) is a service operated by the NHS Digital Copyright Licensing Service that enables users to access certain copyrighted clinical assessment tools and outcome measures for use within health and social care
National data opt-out programme
We’re introducing a new tool that people can use to opt out of their confidential patient information being used for reasons other than their individual care.
National Health Application and Infrastructure Services (NHAIS): More services
Services include the Calculating Quality Reporting Service Bureau, Data Centre Hosting, GMS Census download and Prescription Pricing Division Data
Networking addressing
We register nhs.uk domain names for organisations wanting an NHS website. We also deal with IP addresses, SMTP email domains, EDI addresses and MESH accounts.
NHS Apps Library
The NHS Apps Library provides trusted digital tools for patients and the public to manage and improve their health. It has been launched as a beta site and over time will grow to cover more health and care needs.
NHS Blood and Organ Donor Registers
Read how the NHS Blood and Organ Donation Registers work and download user reference manuals.
NHS Business Partners
Our programme provides a dedicated contact point for both NHS commissioners and, where appropriate, their contracted healthcare providers and their system suppliers.
NHS Choices
NHS Choices provides comprehensive health information with thousands of articles, videos and tools to help the public make the best choices for their health and lifestyle.
NHS Data Model and Dictionary Service
The NHS Data Model and Dictionary develops, maintains and supports NHS data standards.
NHS e-Referral Service
The NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) combines electronic booking with a choice of place, date and time for first hospital or clinic appointments. Patients can choose their initial hospital or clinic appointment, book it in the GP surgery at the point of referral, or later at home on the phone or online.
NHS Infrastructure Maturity Model
The NHS Infrastructure Maturity Model (NIMM) framework helps NHS IT organisations to carry out an objective assessment of their IT infrastructure (to determine how developed/capable specific IT services are) and to identify infrastructure maturity improvement projects.
NHSmail
Sign in to your secure NHS email. NHSmail is a secure email service approved for sharing sensitive information.
NHS Number
The NHS Number helps healthcare staff and service providers match patients to their health records.
NHS Pathways
NHS Pathways helps direct telephone calls from the public, based on the symptoms they report when they call urgent and emergency care services.
NHS WiFi
NHS WiFi will give staff and patients access to WiFi in NHS settings in England.
NHS WiFi in GP practices
NHS WiFi is being rolled out to GP practices in England.
NHS WiFi in secondary care
NHS Wi-Fi is being put in place in a small number of NHS trusts, before it is rolled out to other trusts across the country (subject to approval of funding).
O
Open Exeter
Open Exeter gives access to patient data held on the National Health Application and Infrastructure Services (NHAIS) systems.
Ophthalmic Payment System
The Ophthalmic Payments System is the central system which helps opticians to submit claims for NHS work and receive payment. It also provides central reporting and fraud detection tools to the NHS, as well as providing the information for the central Optician Directory.
Organisation Data Service
The service is responsible for publishing codes that identify organisations and individuals across health and social care.
Organisation Links
Organisation Links (Orglinks) allows health authorities to grant other registered organisations electronic access to patient identity details.
P
Primary Care Information Service
The Primary Care Information Service (PCIS) application provides access to databases and tools for overseeing service delivery in primary care.
Primary Care Registration
The Registration system forms one of the largest population databases in operation in England and Wales.
Q
Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) online database
We have developed an online database to find the results the results of your local GP practice and to report the latest annual QOF points. You can also use the database to compare your local GP practice with other GP practices locally, or across England.
R
Registration Authorities and smartcards
Registration Authorities govern smartcards used by health professionals to access confidential information.
Research Advisory Group
The Research Advisory Group (RAG), hosted by NHS Digital, brings the research community together to make better use of our data and services.
S
Secondary Uses Service (SUS)
Our service allows Commissioners and Providers to use data for secondary uses such as planning, commissioning and calculating payments.
Secure Electronic File Transfer (SEFT)
Secure Electronic File Transfer (SEFT) allows an NHS Digital Business Team to transfer data to and from any external organisation electronically and securely.
Service Management
We manage and protect live service for all of our major IT systems. There are over 70 systems that cover all areas of health and social care.
Service Operations Centre
The Systems and Service Delivery team within NHS Digital operate a number of IT service desks.
Services supported by the SSD team
A collection of services provided and/or supported by the Systems and Service Delivery team.
SNOMED CT
SNOMED CT is a structured clinical vocabulary for use in an electronic health record. It is the most comprehensive and precise clinical health terminology product in the world.
Solution Assurance
Solution Assurance is responsible for assuring the quality and safety of national Health and Social Care IT systems.
Spine
Spine supports the IT infrastructure for health and social care in England, joining together over 23,000 healthcare IT systems in 20,500 organisations.
Summary Care Records (SCR)
The SCR is an electronic record of important patient information, created from GP medical records.
Supporting open data and transparency
Open data is data that can be used and shared by anyone, for any purpose. We make this data publicly available to improve transparency in health and care.
Systems and Service Delivery
Systems and Service Delivery specialise in providing software development and associated IT services across the health and social care system.
T
Terminology and Classifications
National standards for recording and categorising information to support care delivery, statistical analysis, research and the reimbursement of health and care providers.
The Challenging Burden Service
The challenging burden service offers advice, guidance, and support around minimising data collection burden. We work with health and social care organisations to share and identify good practice around how data is collected, collated and shared. We offer a confidential way for you to refer data requests that you feel would benefit from further scrutiny via our collection and offer advice and guidance to minimise the amount of work involved in responding to new or existing data requests.
The Interoperability Toolkit
The Interoperability Toolkit (ITK) is a set of common specifications, frameworks and implementation guides that support interoperability. Interoperability is the capacity for different computer systems to 'talk to each other'.
Training Quality Improvement
Training staff to use clinical and other systems is essential to ensure front-line services are delivered quickly and efficiently. The Training Quality Improvement (TQI) team provides a number of products and services to help training teams deliver high quality training to health and social care staff.
Transfer of Care Initiative
To support the delivery of high quality care, there's an increasing need to share information more efficiently and consistently across health and social care.