About the Organisation Data Service

The Organisation Data Service issues and manages unique identification codes and accompanying reference data for organisations that interact with any area of the NHS. 

ODS codes are used in almost every IT system across the NHS.

We're responsible for:

• developing and maintaining the data to reflect changes in health and social care
• maintaining Registration Authority hierarchies (such as smart card and access control) on Spine to control which organisations can set up smart cards
• developing and distributing the NHS Postcode Directory
• owning and maintaining the NHS Caldicott Guardian, Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) and Information Asset Owner registers for England and Wales
• maintaining the Safe Haven register for England 
• reconfiguration services, including guidance and assistance for organisations on managing change to their codes and any dependent systems following a merger, acquisition or split

You can find out more about the geographical and organisational scope of ODS data from ODS data coverage.

To contact us, email [email protected].