Information standards for health and care
Ensuring data can be governed, shared, and understood across the health and care sector. These standards cover technical specifications, data structures, and data governance.
Information standards are the legal requirements that ensure health and care data can be captured consistently and exchanged digitally.
They define how data is collected, shared, and managed. Think of them as a common language for health information.
As defined in the Health and Social Care Act 2012, an information standard is 'a document containing standards that relate to the processing of information'.
Information standards cover:
- technical: how systems communicate with each other, such as messaging formats
- data: the structure and type of data collected, such as patient demographics and medical codes
- data governance: policies and procedures for handling data securely and ethically
Under the updated Health and Care Act 2012: Public and private providers of health and adult social care services must comply with mandatory information standards, previously it was pay regard. Financial penalties may be given to private health and adult social care providers who fail to comply with mandatory information standards. These are effective from 6 August 2025.
Our duties
We have responsibility to ensure that the information standards are fit for purpose, and support health and care outcomes.
The Data Alliance Partnership Board (DAPB) governs information standards, with the Data Assurance Board (DAB) performing detailed reviews to ensure they are robust and effective.
To ensure data is reliable and safe for better patient care and planning, the Data Governance, Assurance and Testing team (DGAT) thoroughly reviews all information standards.
The latest updates to information standards and data collections recently approved.
Contact us
If you have any queries, or feedback, about any of the information on this page contact us at [email protected].
Last edited: 12 August 2025 3:18 pm