Codes - A Quick Reference Guide

The following table is a quick reference for various GP and organisation codes needed for the NHS.

Code and Validation Description

Format

Obtained from

Entered in

Clinical Commissioning Group Code (or NHS commissioning board Local Area Trust)

NNA (for example12A )

NHS Commissioning

File Maintenance - Organisations - CCG - Identifiers

Consultant Code

8 characters, C prefix followed by six numeric GMC code, plus check digit

 

 

GMC Unique code given to each GP by GMC

7 numeric characters (may have leading 0)

HA

File Maintenance - Staff - Identifiers

GMP code (England only) GMP code used by Path Lab as GP Identifier

7 characters - G then PPA code followed by check digit

From HA / Path Lab

File Maintenance - Staff

GP Code

GMC code, local GP code

 

 

TP/HB/CSA GP Code (HA GP code) Unique GP code given by HA can be same for several HAs

Usually 3 or 4 alphanumeric characters

From each HA

File Maintenance - Staff - Identifiers

PPA No (England) Unique code given to each GP by PPA (see also GMP code)

6 numeric characters (same as GMP code minus first and last characters)

From HA/ PPA or from script pad

File Maintenance - Staff - Identifiers

Prescribing number for doctors (Scotland only)

6 characters, the first being alphabetic

From HB

File Maintenance - Staff - Professional

Prescribing number for nurses (England & Wales)

8 character, alphanumeric with format NNANNNNA, for example, 12A3456B

 

File Maintenance - Staff - Professional

Prescribing number for nurses (Northern Ireland only)

Four digit numbers (pricing numbers)

 

File Maintenance - Staff - Professional

Prescribing number for nurses (Scotland only)

5 character alphanumeric. First character is HB cipher, second two are unique identifier for the nurse, and last two identify the practice.

 

File Maintenance - Staff - Professional

Prescribing number for Physiotherapist

Five digits preceded by PH

 

File Maintenance - Staff - Professional

Prescribing number for Chiropodist

Five digits preceded by CH

 

File Maintenance - Staff - Professional

Prescribing number for Radiographer

Five digits preceded by RA

 

File Maintenance - Staff - Professional

Prescribing number for Optometrist

Five digits preceded by OP

 

File Maintenance - Staff - Professional

Senior Partner code GP code for senior partner for that HA

Usually 3 or 4 alpha numeric characters

From GP code for senior partner entered in Vision 3

Vision 3/ GPC

Health Board - Northern Ireland

ZE0 Eastern Health and Social Services Board, ZN0 Northern, ZS0 Southern, ZW0 Western

 

 

Health Board - Scotland

3 character version of the Health Board code (range SA9-SZ9).

 

 

Healthlink Mailbox Identifier for Healthlink Mailbox checked against Reference code

5 alphanumeric characters (HA or HB cipher preceded by F then 1,2 or 3 zeros to make 5 characters), for example, F00BU.

Extrapolated from HA cipher

Vision 3

Local health Board - Wales (replace Health Authorities in April 2003)

Q followed by W and 1-5

5 alpha numeric field with the first 3 characters identifying the LHB (for example, Gwent QW1) and the fourth and fifth characters to be filled with zeros

 

 

National identifier (important for exporting clinical audits to PCO). Also called the CRIR code

6 characters, letter followed by 5 digits

From HA

Vision 3 (File Maintenance - Practice)

NHS Trust, England and Wales

R, A-9, A-9, followed by two blanks or zeros

 

 

Primary Care Trust

5, A-9, A-9 followed by two blanks or zeros

 

 

Provider, Northern Ireland *

Z 1,7 0-9 0-9 0-9

2nd character identifiers organisation. 1 = HSS Trust, 7 = Independent Provider

 

 

Provider, Scotland **

S A-Z, A,C,D 0-9 0-9. The 2nd character identifies the Health Board. The third character A= Health Unit, C=Hospital Trust, D=Nursing Home

 

 

Strategic Health Authority - England - Q code

Q followed by A-9 and A-9

 

See Strategic Health Authorities

Trading Partner Cipher HA Cipher unique to each HA

2 or 3 alpha characters. In England, for example, BD Bedfordshire, LNA City and East London, NEW Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In Scotland it is the single letter code, for example, L Lanarkshire, G for Greater Glasgow Health Board; and in Northern Ireland, NI

From HA

Vision 3 (File Maintenance) , GPC

CRIR code National Identifier (Practice code).

1 alpha then 5 numerics

From HA.

GPC - Clinical Address

Practice Edifact Link codes HA Edifact Link code for sending to HA

Usually 4 alphanumeric characters

From HA

GPC

Practice Edifact Link codes Path Lab Edifact Link code for sending to path lab

15 numeric characters (may have leading 0s)

HA / Path Lab

GPC

Qualifier Qualifier for Path Lab only precedes Edifact Link codes in transmissions

80 (for both Qualifier fields)

Will always be 80

GPC

Reference code Reference code checked against HA Mailbox

5 alphanumeric characters (HA or HB cipher preceded by F then 1, 2 or 3 zeros to make 5 character code)

Extrapolated from HA cipher

Entered in Name on GPC - Clinical Address, to populate Reference Code

Sender Edifact Link codes HA Edifact Link code for receiving from HA

Usually 4 alphanumeric characters

From HA

GPC

Recipient Edifact Link codes Path Lab Edifact Link code for receiving from path lab

15 numeric characters (may have leading zeros)

HA / Path Lab

GPC

 

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