Secondary Uses Service (SUS) Guidance

SUS Guidance is a resource for SUS users on sending and accessing data, set-up and system support. For guidance on National Tariff/Payment by Results please refer to the SUS PbR Guidance page.

General guidance

SUS Essentials

Getting started with SUS
Security and confidentiality
Accessing data and data quality issues
SUS service availability and incident management
Data sender deployment

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SUS+ essentials Secondary Uses Service user guide

This guidance provides a reference point for new and existing Secondary Uses Service (SUS) users. It introduces general concepts, provides an overview of the submission process and provides details on extracting data from SUS.

Sending data

Sending CDS data

using BULK or NET submission methods
merging organisations
Submitting anonymous and Legally Restricted codes (previously known as Sensitive codes)

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Submitting CDS Data to SUS

This guidance provides information on some of the points to consider when sending data to the Secondary Uses Services (SUS) system. It should be read in conjunction with the NHS Data Dictionary which details the format and content of the data to be sent.

Legally restricted codes

xlsx 94 KB

Submitter guidance

docx 17 KB

Schema guidance

Wessex Schema for XML suppliers v4.0

xlsx 120 KB

Sender registration

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SUS registration overview

SUS is currently only directly available to NHS organisations (or their information suppliers such as shared information services) and only to a limited number of staff in each organisation. To access this information users must have a Spine smart card with the correct access rights

SUS sender registration form (SR1)

xlsx 53 KB

Accessing SUS

The portal user guide includes information on

browser requirements
access and authorisation
creating and scheduling extracts
Interchange tracking
error messages

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SUS portal

SUS online.

Supporting guidance

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SUS Portal user guide

SUS guidance is a resource for SUS users on sending and accessing data, set-up and system support.

Managed Service Field Listings

zip 8 KB

SEM and PbR

Guidance on the differences and mapping between Standard Extract Mart SEM and PbR (Payment By Results).

SEM vs. PbR Summary v1.0

xlsx 13 KB

SUS_SEM_Extract_Specification

xlsx 161 KB

SUS+ historical data request

Users requiring access to historical data archive should complete this form and submit to National Service Desk for review.

SUS+ historical data request form v1.0

xlsx 14 KB

Service announcements and outages

Find important SUS service announcements, information on planned outages and known issues.

Monthly trust reports

The latest monthly trust reports are available on the operational support page.

Useful Links

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NHS Standards, collections and NHS Standard Contract required collections

An alphabetical list of all current approved national information standards and data collections (including extractions).

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NHS Data Model and Dictionary

The NHS Data Model and Dictionary provides a reference point for approved Information Standards Notices to support health care activities within the NHS in England. It has been developed for everyone who is actively involved in the collection of data and the management of information in the NHS.

Contact us

Please report any service issues via the ServiceNow Portal (log in required)

Click Submit a call

Click contact us from the Categories List and then click contact us form that is displayed and complete all relevant fields

or call 0300 303 5035.

Last edited: 9 July 2026 1:40 pm