SACT - Linkage - Primary identity details

These items are mandatory for every record, to enable NCRAS to accurately link patient records. To ensure that records submitted can be linked appropriately, key data fields must be completed for each record submitted.

There will be one linkage section completed each time the record is submitted. This is a new section for SACT v4.

Must be one occurrence per record (1..1)

Linkage Identifier Choice - Choice 1..2

Choice 1

End of Choice 1

Choice 2

End of Choice 2

End of Linkage Identifier Choice

Linkage identifier choice

* A combination of either ‘NHS Number’ and/or ‘Local Patient Identifier’ are mandatory for the schema. This section is classified as [1..2], therefore both can be submitted, but a record cannot be submitted without at least one of these data items.

Notes:

• most patients will have an NHS Number, and this should always be included where available
• for those who do not have an NHS Number, the hospital number (Local Patient Identifier) must be provided
• if both are available, then it is advised to submit both data items

Choice 1

NHS Number

The 'NHS Number' is a unique identifier for a patient within the NHS in England and Wales. This will not vary between any organisations of which a person is a patient.

There are some exceptions though, and these patients will not have a valid NHS Number:

• foreign nationals
• Scottish patient
• some members of the armed forces, including US personnel
• prisoners
• babies under the age of 12 weeks

Choice 2

Local Patient Identifier

The ‘Local Patient Identifier’ is a number used to identify a patient uniquely within a health care provider. It may be different from the patient's case note number and may be assigned automatically by the computer system.

NHS Number Status Indicator Code

This is a mandatory data item. The ‘NHS Number Status Indicator Code’ indicates the verification status of the NHS number provided.

Person Birth Date

This is a mandatory data item. The ‘Person Birth Date’ is the date on which a person was born or is officially deemed to have been born. This should be automatically linked via your local PAS or EPR system when you create a record for the first time.

Notes:

• the data item name has been amended in v4, previously ‘Date of Birth’

• all dates must be formatted as ccyy-mm-dd
  • SACT will not accept American formatted dates

Organisation Identifier (Code of Provider)

This is a mandatory data item. The ‘Organisation Identifier (Code of Provider)’ is the organisation identifier of the organisation acting as a health care provider (an6 not applicable to SACT).

This is the 3 or 5-digit code of the organisation submitting the record. This will therefore normally be either the organisation where the referral is received or the treating organisation.

Note:

• this could also include the new ANANA codes, created for new organisations