Submitting data for the MSDS to the Strategic Data Collection Service (SDCS) cloud

Providers must submit MSDS data via the Strategic Data Collection Service in the Cloud (SDCS Cloud) using a registered account. 

You can learn more about registering for and submitting MSDS data through the SDCS Cloud by reading the guidance provided by the SDCS service.   

Data submissions for Maternity Services are based upon fixed reporting periods. There is a period of approximately two months for each submission to be undertaken. Data submissions are required on a monthly basis. Effective from 1 May 2023, for submission of April 2023 data the MSDS has moved to a provisional and final processing submission model as illustrated in the timetable below.

NHS England processes submissions at two points during the existing 2 month reporting window. Submissions made in the first month of the reporting window are processed as the provisional submission of the respective reporting period and produce provisional statistics.

At the end of the second month, NHS England runs final processing on submissions for final national analysis and reporting purposes.

The MSDS requirements are set out in the MSDS v.2.0 (DCB1513) information standard. The standard defines the data items, definitions and associated value sets to be extracted or derived from local information systems.

Provisional processing and final processing

During the submission window, providers can make as many submissions as are needed.

Submissions ahead of the provisional processing deadline will be strongly encouraged to enable timely data to be available for operational decision making and planning purposes. 

There will be no requirement for providers to do any further submissions after provisional processing if the quality of their existing submission is sufficient.

Any files submitted to and accepted by the SDCS Cloud overwrite previously submitted files. It is therefore imperative that providers thoroughly check their data submission as there are no opportunities to re-submit data for a time period once this portal has closed.

You may also find it useful to read the SDCS Cloud data quality guide. 

NHS England will use the ‘last good file’ that passed validation, by either the provisional processing deadline or once the submission deadline window has closed at the end of month two, for national analysis and reporting.

Read how to implement MSDS v2.0 and access tools and guidance. 

MSDS v2.0 XML Schema and optional Intermediate Database (IDB)

The MSDS is submitted to NHS England using an XML file that is compliant with the MSDS v2.0 XML Schema. The XML schema has been developed along with an MSDS Intermediate Database (IDB) tool that can be used as an alternative to the XML schema to enable providers to load or copy their data into the provided table structure for submission to the MSDS. To access the MSDS v2.0 XML Schema or IDB you will need to register and create an account through the link on the TRUD homepage. 

MSDS v2.0 submission XML Schema Version 2.0 

The Maternity Services Data Set submission XML Schema Version 2.0 is available on the TRUD website within NHS Data Model and Dictionary XML Schemas under the categories on the left of the page.

Intermediate Database (IDB)

The Maternity Services Data Set (MSDS) intermediate database tool for MSDS v2.0 is available on the TRUD website within Data Set Development Services Tools, under the heading Categories on the left of the page.  

The intermediate database for MSDS v2.0 is a Microsoft Access database and must be provided in this format. You may also find it useful to read the intermediate database guidance.  This guidance document is intended to assist users in preparing data in the Intermediate Database (IDB). The IDB is used for submitting data to the Strategic Data Collections Service (SDCS) Cloud platform.

Contact the National Service Desk if you are experiencing issues and require operational support in using the SDCS cloud on 0300 303 5035 or email [email protected]

Contact our enquiries team on 0300 303 5678  or email [email protected] to raise a general MSDS enquiry.