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COVID-19 Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA) in Secondary Care

Collection of data between 2019 and 2023 sourced from hospital ePMA systems relating to medicines prescribed and administered to patients, to support the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Data set versions as presented in the DARS online system

COVID-19 electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA) in Secondary Care


Access Method


Data set available in packages

Packages are pre-defined groups of fields and or tables that allow a customer to select from a list that best meets their needs. Packages do not allow a customer to customise their field or table selection.

  • Yes

Period of data coverage

01/01/2019 to 13/08/2023


Geographical scope of data

A limited number of NHS hospital trusts in England:

  • NHS trusts using ePMA systems supplied by CareFlow Medicines Management (CMM) - only trusts with a CMM system that was live by August 2023 have been onboarded to this collection
  • NHS ambulance trusts were not in scope

The Data Provision Notice states that trusts using systems supplied by Cerner were in scope, but those trusts did not join the collection.



Linkable to other data sets

  • Yes - options for linking using either pseudonymised or identifiable data.


Data collection process

Submitted by: Hospital dispensers using CareFlow Medicines Management ePMA systems

Collected by: NHS England

Frequency: Daily


Clinical coding systems

Does the data set include any standardised systems of coding?

  • SNOMED-CT (a structured clinical vocabulary for use in electronic health records.)
  • dm+d (dictionary of descriptions and codes which represent medicines and devices in use across the NHS.)
  • UCUM (Unified Code for Units of Measure (UCUM) is a code system intended to include all units of measurement.)
Full list of coding systems considered
  • SNOMED-CT (a structured clinical vocabulary for use in electronic health records.)
  • ICD  (International Classification of Diseases classifies diseases and other health conditions.)
  • OPCS-4  (Office of Population Census and Surveys classification of interventions and surgical procedures)
  • dm+d  (Dictionary of descriptions and codes which represent medicines and devices in use across the NHS.)
  • NICIP (National Interim Clinical Imaging Procedure provides consistent recording of imaging procedures.)
  • UCUM  (Unified Code for Units of Measure (UCUM) is a code system intended to include all units of measurement.)
  • TFCs (Treatment Function Codes are used to record treatment activities undertaken)
  • Read Code v2  (A coded thesaurus of clinical terms.)
  • Read Code Clinical Terms v3 (A coded thesaurus of clinical terms.)
  • UICC (Union for International Cancer Control classification of cancer by anatomic disease extent.)
  • IMD  (Indices of Multiple Deprivation measures relative poverty.)
     

Derived fields

Standardised formulation may be applied across multiple data sets to generate commonly derived fields.  Any standard derivations applicable to this data set are listed below. Please note that this does not include bespoke derivations created specifically for the individual data set.

  • LSOA_OF_RESIDENCE (The Lower Super Output Area (lowest level without being disclosive) covering the area in which the patient’s postcode falls. )
Full list of standard derivations considered

GP_PRACTICE_CODE_TRACED (The GP Practice that the patient is registered at, as found when traced against the Person Demographic Service (PDS).)

CCG_OF_RESIDENCE (Clinical Commissioning Group covering the area in which the patient’s postcode falls where data relates to pre 1st July 2022. Otherwise ICB Sub Location.)

ICS_OF_RESIDENCE (The Integrated Care System covering the area in which the patient’s postcode falls. This will be null for any data relating to earlier than 1st July 2022.)

LA_OF_RESIDENCE (The Local Authority covering the area in which the patient’s postcode falls.)

LSOA_OF_RESIDENCE (The Lower Super Output Area (lowest level without being disclosive) covering the area in which the patient’s postcode falls.)

CCG_OF_REGISTRATION (Clinical Commissioning Group which has a commissioning relationship with the GP Practice which the patient is registered at where data relates to pre 1st July 2022. Otherwise ICB Sub Location.)

ICS_OF_REGISTRATION (The Integrated Care System covering the area in which the patient’s GP Practice falls. This will be null until for any data relating to earlier than 1st July 2022.)

LA_OF_REGISTRATION (The Local Authority covering the area in which the patient’s GP Practice falls.)

LSOA_OF_REGISTRATION (The Lower Super Output Area (lowest level without being disclosive) covering the area in which the patient’s GP Practice falls.)


Third party licensing

Does the data set require copyrighted clinical assessment tools or outcome measures that require a licence?

  • None

Advice and support

Governance of this data set is provided by:

Owning organisation: Department of Health and Social Care

Data Controller: NHS England and Department of Health and Social Care

Data Processor: NHS England

NHS England provides a variety of functions for the data sets we make available.  Therefore, our knowledge and understanding of the data will vary, impacting the level of advice and support we can provide.

In relation to this data set, we undertake end to end management and can therefore provide a full advice, guidance and support service.


Supporting documentation and guidance

Last edited: 31 January 2025 11:42 am