CHI Number

The CHI Number should be entered for Scottish and Northern Ireland practices as it provides one of the main identification factors for patients.

To enter, place the cursor in the right-hand window of the CHI number field and type in the last four digits of the CHI number. When you press Enter, the date of birth will fill in automatically in the left-hand window to complete the number. A warning is given if the format is invalid.

Although it is not mandatory at the time of registering, a GP4/HS4 card should contain this information.

For Registration linked practices with Partners, the Approval transaction for new patients may or may not contain the NHS number, but will often contain the CHI number.

Of the ten digits of the CHI number, the first six digits are the patient's date of birth. When entering a CHI number on a patient's Registration screen, just enter the last four digits in the second box – the patient's date of birth will be filled in as the first six digits automatically. Note the second to last digit is odd if male, and even if female. The last digit is a check digit.

Note - The patient's date of birth and sex make up part of the patient's CHI number, and you are strongly advised to contact your Health Board (Scotland) before making any alteration to either of these. If either field is amended, the patient will be re-registered and a new CHI number generated.

Once the screen is complete, the Registration - Card Type screen displays (see Registration - Medical Card type)

For Registration linked practices with Partners, if you reject an incoming Amendment Transaction, then it will not update your system, unless it contains a change to the patient's CHI number.

Patients migrating from Scotland to Northern Ireland are usually allocated a new CHI number.

Note that if you are adding a patient who has a registration status of Private, or under special care only - maternity, contraceptive, CHS or minor surgery - the next screen to be displayed is Registration - Personal Details