About

The National Commissioning Data Repository (NCDR) Reference Library holds definitions of all data items held on the NCDR. The NCDR is the pseudonymised patient-level data repository managed by the NHS England team Data Services. It is designed to deliver consistent data processing, linkage and reporting services, mainly for the use of NHS England analytical teams in order to aid in the delivery of a wide range of projects, including the Long Term Plan.

If you would like any further information, want to be involved with developing further content or wish to provide us with feedback, please contact us.

Who are Data Services?

The NCDR Reference Library is owned and managed by the Data Services team. Data Services was established by NHS England to ensure that information about the performance and impact of NHS services is available when decisions are made about the commissioning of health services. Data Services also ensures that information has been accessed legally in accordance with all applicable laws and mandatory guidance contained within the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the Care Act 2014 and the European Union General Data Protection Regulations 2018 (GDPR).

Data Services provides information to analysts working for NHS England in the form of data warehouses and packages of specific sets of data. The packages of data we produce enables analysts to provide evidence in the form of reports and dashboards to support the NHS drive to improve health and wellbeing across England.

If you are interested in finding out more about Data Services, please see our website or contact us.

What is on the NCDR Reference Library?

Databases

This contains definitions of all databases and tables within the NCDR, along with detailed descriptions of all data items. This is to assure analysts that the data items they use in their analyses are correct, both in how they are derived by the NCDR team and how they are used by the analysts themselves.

Useful if you need to understand the specific contents of a table or database.

Data Items

This is one list of all unique data items found in the NCDR, and from there says which databases and tables they can be found in. This allows analysts to transfer their knowledge of certain datasets to others when the need arises.

Useful if you are looking for a specific data item and don’t know where to find it.

Groupings

This collects similar themed data items together into groups to help with navigation and usability.

Useful if you know you want to investigate a certain area but are not sure of what data items are available.