About the DID data product
The DID data product is created from monthly submissions of data on diagnostic imaging tests carried out on NHS patients, extracted from local RIS.
Data submitted to the DID collection covers four areas, providing information about the:
- patient (such as NHS number, date of birth, gender, ethnicity)
- referrer (referrer code, referring organisation code)
- imaging provider (organisation site code)
- imaging examination (imaging codes, key dates in the imaging process)
The DID data product is produced by applying additional derivations, cleaning, and data transformations to the collection, this improves the analytic utility and opportunity for the product to benefit multiple user groups.
Scope of the DID
The DID data product includes information about examinations conducted on NHS patients in England including NHS Trusts, NHS Foundation Trusts and Independent Sector Providers who provide NHS funded diagnostic imaging tests.
The data is extracted from providers RIS and submitted monthly. The DID collection includes activity undertaken since April 2012.
Each DID record contains a wide range of information about the diagnostic imaging test, including information on the:
- patient (such as NHS number, date of birth, gender, ethnicity)
- referrer (referrer code, referring organisation code)
- imaging provider (organisation site code)
- imaging examination (imaging codes, key dates in the imaging process)
Further information is derived from the submitted data, including:
- geographic information (Lower and Middle Super Output Area)
- commissioning groups
- organisation names (for example trust sites, GP practices)
- imaging related information (such as modality, body region, body system)
- days between key imaging dates (for example days from test request to test, days from test to service report issue)
Data not captured on the provider’s RIS such as for breast screening or cardiac ultrasound activity is not included in the collection. The images that are produced from the tests or post mortem imaging are not included.
DID Analytical Technical Output Specification (ATOS)
The DID ATOS is a data dictionary intended for use by all users of the DID data product. The ATOS gives detail around all data fields within the DID data product.
It describes how and where curation takes place, it promotes clarity and transparency to our users, facilitating effective utilisation of the data for their own analytical needs.
Details of fields that are cleaned or derived following submission are included as well as any known data item issues.
Linkage of DID data
Providing data products that facilitate effective linkage with other data sources is a key component in enabling the effective utilisation of our data products to meet a wide range of our analytical user needs.
The way in which we facilitated linkage of DID data to occur changed in 2021. This was through the introduction of the Master Person Service (MPS) Person ID which will enable direct linkage of patient records across data sets such as HES and the MSDS, reducing the time and complexity in the analysis of DID data.
Prior to this point linkage methods of DID data utilised a methodology reliant on an initial linkage with the Hospital Episode Statistics, through the HES-DID linkage. Historical information and publications related to this linkage approach.
Last edited: 18 January 2024 1:54 pm